Election day is fast approaching and by now you have probably weighed the issues and decided who you would like to see as your local MP, but how exactly do you cast your vote? As you gear up to exercise your democratic right on Oct. 2, there are a couple of things that you may need to know.

First of all you need to be on the voting list. If you are above the age of 18 and a Canadian citizen, you are eligible and should already be on the Permanent Register of Elections for Ontario. This means that when there is an election called, you will receive a Notice of Registration Card containing the location of their election day poll and dates and locations of advance polls. If you haven’t received this card in the mail then you can call 1-888 ONT VOTE (1-888 668-8683) to find out if you are on the list.

Not being on the list does not mean that you can’t vote. If you know that you are eligible then you can be added to the list of voters on the day of the election at the polling station. To do this you need to complete an application form and bring identification. This can be either be something that shows your name, address and signature, such as a driving license, or two pieces of identification-one that shows your name and signature, such as a passport or credit card, and one that shows your name and home address, such as a bill.

Voting by proxy is possible if you are out of town on the day of the election. This can be done by filling out a signing an application that you must then give to the person who will vote for you. Your proxy must show this form to the returning officer before election day and he or she will receive a certificate to vote.

If you can’t or don’t want to wait until Oct. 2 then you can vote at an advance poll. For Trinity-Spadina, advance polls are open from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. They operate from the Sept. 24-26 and they are located at Church of the Messiah, 240 Avenue Road, St. Alban’s Boys and Girls Club, 843 Palmerston Avenue and the Trinity Recreation Centre at 155 Crawford Street.

On election day you have from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. to cast your vote at Essex Public School at 50 Essex Street.