Expat Canadians deserve the right to vote in Federal Elections

The decision is clearly unconstitutional. Refer to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, section 3. As my home and native land, I do still have a vested interest in how Canada is governed.

The Charter could not be more clear: *all* Canadians have the right to vote. This includes expats and citizens by descent.

This is wrong we should not loose the right to vote.

As a Canadian, who is also still paying Canadian student loans I should have EVERY right to vote. If our Federal government can't even provide us jobs to finance our student debts...they surely can't expat us to live in our country. Then turning around to slap us in the face with not voting is beyond insultingly disgusting.

Give me my vote!

Canadians living abroad should be allowed to vote.

ALL Canadian citizens at home or abroad should not be denied the right to vote in Federal Elections!

Voting rights for citizens is constitutional

10 years ago Featured

I am a Canadian citizen living in USA (right by the border). I still follow CDN news and politics. I even own a home and pay property tax but can't vote because its not my primary residence. I feel like Nelly McClung - apparently I'm not a person anymore.

I'm still within the five year limit, and I intend to make my last vote count.

Why should we pay Canadian taxes if we're not allowed to vote?

my voice should be heard. I don't want to come home to a mess.

The Constitution specifies that to vote in a Canadian election, one must be a CITIZEN. There is no mention of residency requirements. This ban on expats is completely unconstitutional. And the argument that those who don't live here aren't effected by the laws in Canada, and thus shouldn't count is the same reasoning that led to this ravaging of Rights. Canada's foreign policies, in many ways, affect expats more than residents; should their voices not be heard, should they have no representation in such decisions? Some expats still pay income tax to the Canadian government, yet have no representation or say in how that money is spent. Regulations like these are slowly stripping Canada of its democracy.

I spent 9 years outside Canada and was not allowed to vote in the 2011 election. That was the first time ever! I'm in my 60s. grrrrr

Words cannot express my discontent with this. It's the equivalent of breaking human rights. I live overseas and still actively engage in Canadian politics. I'd even argue I'm a more educated voter as I've see and witnessed other governmental systems, buracaccey, and politicians from developing countries. I've voted every time since I was 18. As an expat working abroad, I focus more on understanding International relations and policies, and use my vote to reflect my beliefs on such.

As a citizen, I have the right to vote regardless of where I live and how long I have been out of the country.

Section 3 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms states: "Every citizen of Canada has the right to vote in an election of members of the House of Commons or of a legislative assembly and to be qualified for membership therein."

I live out of the country currently to represent CANADA's involvement at the UNITED NATIONS and global development. This is patriotism and to strip that voting power away is a blow to everything we stand for.

My Canadian expat friends deserve the right to vote. I'd be appalled if Australia tried to do this to me.

Finland, for example.