S-222Vote 16 Act
An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and the Regulation Adapting the Canada Elections Act for the Purposes of a Referendum
Senate public bill, introduced in the Senate on May 29, 2025
- Status
- Defeated at second reading in the Senate
- Sponsor
- Marilou McPhedranSenator
- Senator
What it does
Lowers the voting age to 16 for federal elections and referendums, and updates related election rules.
What it does
- Sets the voting age for federal elections at 16 or older on polling day for Canadian citizens.
- Applies the same 16-plus voting rule to referendums under the adapted Canada Elections Act.
- Changes the definition of “future elector” to mean a Canadian citizen who is 14 or 15 years old.
- Removes the rule that election officers appointed under section 32 may be under 18 but must be at least 16.
- Updates voting offences, solemn declaration forms, and fundraising disclosure rules to match the new 16-year-old voting age.
Who it affects
- Canadian citizens aged 16 and 17
- Canadian citizens aged 14 and 15
- Federal voters
- Election officers
- Registered political parties
- Referendum voters
Background
Under the current Canada Elections Act, a person must be a Canadian citizen and at least 18 years old on polling day to vote. The bill also changes the related referendum regulation to match the new voting age.
Where it is
Senate
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Defeated here. Defeated
Committee
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
House of Commons
First reading
Not reached.
Second reading
Not reached.
Committee
Not reached.
Report stage
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
Royal assent
Royal assent
Not reached.
Introduced by a senator. If the Senate passes it, it goes to the House of Commons, where an MP must agree to sponsor it. How a bill becomes law
How the House voted
No recorded votes yet
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: Bill defeated. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.