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A History of the Vote in Canada, a book published by the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada, recounts how the right to vote in this country evolved over the past 250 years.

The book tells the story of the vote from the time of the first elected legislatures in what is now Canada to the 1997 federal general election. It traces changes in voter eligibility, electioneering and voting practices, and reports on voter turnout since Confederation.

It is the first comprehensive history of the franchise, told from the perspective of voters, and conceived with a broad range of readers in mind.

The 128-page text of A History of the Vote in Canada is richly illustrated with period photographs and drawings, images of historical documents and election artifacts, and political cartoons.

Elections Canada’s goal in publishing A History of the Vote in Canada was to create an educational resource and a durable reminder for Canadians of the significance of the right to vote.