# Does registering to vote significantly increase the likelihood of jury duty?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-registering-to-vote-significantly-increase-the-likelihood-of-jury-duty/964550>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 17, 2022, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-registering-to-vote-significantly-increase-the-likelihood-of-jury-duty/964550 "2022-05-17T14:11:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 27

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**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\
**Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-registering-to-vote-significantly-increase-the-likelihood-of-jury-duty/964550/27 "2022-05-18T21:21:36Z")

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> [@md-2000](#):
>
> I’m in Canada, jury trials are far less common here (IIRC, the charges have to have a maximum sentence of 5 years or more?).

As I said as recently as March 14, 2022:

> [@What would happen if every single defendant insisted on going to trial rather than plead guilty?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-every-single-defendant-insisted-on-going-to-trial-rather-than-plead-guilty/961006/16):
>
> > [@What would happen if every single defendant insisted on going to trial rather than plead guilty?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-every-single-defendant-insisted-on-going-to-trial-rather-than-plead-guilty/961006/9):
> >
> > Canada has a limit, IIRC the charges have to carry 5 years or more to have a jury.
> 
> We have had this discussion many times in the past and I am getting tired of correcting you.
> 
> Any time the police charge someone with an indictable offence, they have a right to a jury trial. Every time. It’s set out in the Criminal Code.

But since you don’t seem to believe me, here’s the Criminal Code provision:

> [@](#):
>
> **Trial by jury compulsory**
> 
> **471** Except where otherwise expressly provided by law, every accused who is charged with an indictable offence shall be tried by a court composed of a judge and jury.

The major exception to this requirement is if the accused elects to be tried by judge alone.

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