Voting in Hamilton and Niagara regions today? Here's what you need to know

Along with the rest of Canada, Hamiltonians go to the polls today in a federal election, with U.S. economic and sovereignty threats and affordability among the main issues being considered, as Canadians choose a government to lead the country for the next four years.

Mark Carney triggered the vote in March, weeks after he was elected to lead the Liberal Party following Justin Trudeau's resignation.

An estimated 7.3 million Canadians — a record — cast their ballots in early voting over the Easter weekend, according to Elections Canada. That's a 25 per cent increase from 2021.

Nationally, the Conservative Party of Canada, led by Pierre Poilievre, and the Liberal Party are the leading contenders, according to CBC's poll tracker. The NDP, led by Jagmeet Singh, is trying to hold onto official party status.

Polls will be open 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. ET. People still waiting in line at 9:30 p.m. will still be able to vote. Elections Canada notes there are three options for voting:

Polling locations can be found by typing your postal code into the Elections Canada website. People can also contact local candidates for help to find their polling locations and some candidates will also offer transportation help if necessary.

Want to know more about your riding, the candidates and the local issues that matter to them? CBC Hamilton has a profile for each of the 12 ridings in the Hamilton and Niagara area. Find out more about:

Over the course of the campaign, CBC Hamilton heard from residents who said that in addition to the U.S. tariffs, other issues would also help shape how they vote. These include:

"I check [food] prices constantly — there's no room for anything extra," Hamilton resident Joe Struthers told CBC News. 

"If my landlord decides to sell, I'd probably end up homeless. I couldn't afford anything else in the city." 

Another resident, Jessica Fawcett, an occupational therapist and a mother of two, says her family's financial future feels uncertain — squeezed by the lack of affordable daycare and the prospect of renewing her mortgage at a much higher interest rate next year.

Shri Kulkarni, a tech worker and a father in Burlington, thought buying a home would offer his family security. Instead, he says they're feeling the financial strain more than ever.

"We bought during the peak," he said. "Now mortgage rates are way up, and home values are down. We're stuck — can't sell, can't save, and every month costs us more."

In their costed platforms, the Liberals promised to generate revenue by boosting investment. The Conservatives said they would pay for significant tax cuts by slashing government spending and upping revenue from home-building and policy changes, such as repealing Ottawa's Impact Assessment Act. The NDP said it would invest billions in health care and tax the wealthy.