Ottawa voters will have several options to cast a ballot in the 2026 municipal election. Residents will be able to cast a vote for mayor, councillor and school board trustee in advance voting polls, by special mail-in ballot and on election day Oct. 26. Here is what you need to know about voting in the City of Ottawa’s municipal election. Who can vote? To cast a ballot in Ottawa’s municipal election, you must be the following on election day: Voters List The City of Ottawa says eligible electors can verify, add or amend their information on the Voters’ List until Sunday, Sept. 20. You can use the ‘Am I on the Voters’ List?’ tool on ottawa.ca/vote. You can also complete and submit an ‘Application to add or amend my information on the Voters’ List’ to the City of Ottawa’s Elections Office (1221 B Cyrville Rd) or any City of Ottawa Client Service Centre. When can I vote? The City of Ottawa will hold Special Advance Voting Days from Oct. 1 to Oct. 4 at 10 locations. An Advance Voting Day will be held on Friday, Oct. 16 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Election day is Monday, Oct. 26. Special Advance Voting Days In-person voting in the 2026 municipal election will begin on Oct. 1. The Special Advance Voting Days will have an “anywhere voting” model, allowing people to cast their ballot from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the following voting locations: Advance Voting Days The City of Ottawa will host an Advance Voting Day on Friday, Oct. 16. Voters will be assigned a voting location, which will be on the Voter Notification Letter or available on the ‘Where do I vote?’ search tool. Polling stations will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Election Electors can cast ballots from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 26. Voting locations will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters will be assigned a voting location, which will be on the Voter Notification Letter or available on the ‘Where do I vote?’ search tool. Voting by mail The City of Ottawa says eligible residents can apply to vote by mail. Applications will be accepted for the special mail-in ballot until Sept. 15 at 4:30 p.m. You can apply for a mail-in ballot by: The mail-in voter kits will be mailed the week of Sept. 21. The completed ballots must be received at the Elections Office or any Client Service Centre by 8 p.m. on Oct. 16 to be counted. Voter identification The City of Ottawa says voters will be required to present a piece of identification in order to receive a ballot at the polling station. The identification must show your name and address. Photo identification is not required to vote in Ottawa’s municipal election. Voters can show one of the following as a piece of identification to vote: Voting by Proxy The City of Ottawa says eligible electors can appoint a proxy to vote on their behalf until Oct. 26 at 4:30 p.m. “A proxy must be an eligible elector in the City of Ottawa and can still cast their own ballot,” the city says. To appoint a proxy, you and the person you want to appoint must fill out two copies of the ‘Appointment for Voting Proxy - Form 3’.
