How does a federal election work? Here are 5 things to know [Video]

Mark Carney on Sunday called a snap federal election, a week after becoming the prime minister of Canada.

Canadians go to the polls April 28 to decide the political party and leader that will govern the country for the next four years.

Here are five things to know about how the Canadian election works if you don’t know much about politics, don’t know where to start, or don’t care.

1. How is an election called?

Once the prime minister asks the governor general to dissolve Parliament, the chief electoral officer is directed to issue the writs (or written orders) of election. The writ tells election officers in each riding, or electoral district, to hold an election. In Canada, there are 343 federal ridings.

Learn more about the federal election here:

2. How are candidates nominated?

Political parties decide on their candidates for each riding as soon as the writs are issued, and candidates not affiliated with a party run as “independent” candidates or candidates with “no …