OTTAWA -- Some key dates in the evolution of elections in Canada.
1867: The first federal election is held with voting between Aug. 7 and Sept 20.
1874: The secret ballot is introduced.
1918: Women get the right to vote in federal elections.
1919: Women get the right to run as federal candidates; election law is changed to prohibit candidates from running in more than one riding. For example, in 1887, Sir John A Macdonald ran in the ridings of Carleton and Kingston and was elected in both. He chose to sit for Kingston. Sir Wilfrid Laurier ran in two constituencies in six different elections, losing three times.
1920: The position of chief electoral officer is created to oversee federal elections.
1921: Agnes Macphail becomes the first woman elected to Parliament.
1950: Inuit people get the right to vote and run in federal elections. New Democrat Peter Ittinuar becomes the first Inuit MP in 1979.
1960: First Nations people living on reserves get the right to vote and run in federal elections without having to give up their status under the Indian Act . Liberal Len Marchand becomes the first aboriginal MP in 1968.
1970: The voting age is lowered to 18 from 21.
1982: The right to vote and the right to be a candidate in an election are enshrined in the Constitution with the adoption of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
1993: Federally appointed judges, persons with mental disabilities and persons serving prison terms of less than two years get the vote.
2002: Following a ruling by the Supreme Court of Canada, voting rights are extended to all inmates.
2007: Legislation fixes the election date as the third Monday of October in the fourth calendar year following the previous general election, unless Parliament is dissolved earlier.
Source: Elections Canada, Parliamentary website
