Preparations are underway by Elections Canada to get ready for the federal election on Monday, Nov. 27, with a number of deadlines coming up for both candidates and voters.

The revision of voters lists began on Wednesday and will continue until Tuesday, Nov. 21, with voter information cards to be mailed out this week, between Nov. 1 and 3.

The returning officer for the Souris-Moose Mountain federal riding is Michel Bauche, and his office is located in the Elgin Mall in Weyburn.

For candidates, the deadline for filing nomination papers with the returning officer is Monday, Nov. 6 at 2 p.m. Candidates have until 5 p.m. that day to withdraw their nominations.

To be a candidate, a person needs to be a Canadian citizen at least 18 years of age on the day of filing the nomination papers; they do not need to be supported by a political party or live in the electoral district. To be on the ballot on Nov. 27, candidates need to have nomination papers signed by a witness and by at least 100 voters from the electoral district, and pay a deposit of $1,000.

Elections Canada no longer conducts door-to-door enumerations for the voters' list (other than in new subdivisions or areas where people tend to move frequently), as they will update the previous one used in 1997. Elections Canada produces a preliminary list from the National Register of Electors, a database showing the majority of voters in a riding.

Voters who have recently moved, turned 18 years old or just acquired Canadian citizenship need to have their information updated on the voters' list. Any citizen over the age of 18 can vote, with the exception of prison inmates serving a term of two years or more, or the Chief Electoral Officer and Assistant Chief Electoral Officer.

The voter information card will be sent to all those on the preliminary list on the national register; if there is a mistake on the card, or if an elector doesn't receive this card by Wednesday, Nov. 8, they are asked to contact the local returning officer to get onto the voters' list. The deadline to get onto the list is Nov. 21; after this date, electors can be registered at the polling station on voting day.

Advance polls for this election will be held on Friday, Nov. 17, Saturday, Nov. 18, and Monday, Nov. 20. Electors can also use special ballots if they do not wish to vote at an advance poll or vote on election day.

A registration form must be filled out for this ballot, and the deadline is Tuesday, Nov. 21. This ballot can be given to the returning officer or mailed to Elections Canada in Ottawa.

For further information on the elections process or on Elections Canada, visit their website (www.elections.ca).