Canada's federal election is still about 7 weeks away but eligible voters can cast a ballot anytime.

Elections Canada has several ways people can vote. Diane Benson is with Elections Canada and she wants people to know they can use what's called a special ballot to vote when they want.

"You can go into the returning office or go online and get a voting kit," she says. "You have to have your I-D to prove who you are and where you live."

Once a voter has the special ballot kit they can vote right in the returning office or go home, vote and return it later. Another option is to use the advance polls to cast your vote.

"Those polls take place the weekend before the election and by then a lot of people have a good idea about the candidates, the parties and the issues," she says. "The nice thing is we have added another day to advance polling."

The advance polls will be open from October 9-12. Benson reminds voters to make sure they are registered and on the voter's list. People can go online and complete an e-registration to make sure they are on the list.

Election day is October 19th.