Friday, October 16 marks the final chance to participate in advance voting for Ottawa’s mayoral, city council, and school trustee candidates before the official election day. This day follows previous special advance voting opportunities earlier in the month and is the last opportunity to cast an advance ballot before the actual voting day on October 26.
To vote, polling stations will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on all voting days, with the exception of certain locations like long-term care facilities that may have adjusted hours. Electors must vote at their designated voting place within their ward on the advance voting day on October 16 and on the official voting day on October 26. The specific voting location can be found on the voter notification letter received in the mail or by using the city’s ‘Where do I vote?’ tool on ottawa.ca/vote.
To be eligible to vote, individuals must be at least 18 years old, a resident, owner, or tenant of land in the city, a Canadian citizen, and not prohibited from voting by law. Students residing and studying in Ottawa but having a permanent address in another municipality are also eligible to vote. Electors can appoint a proxy until 4:30 p.m. on election day.
For voting, individuals must bring a piece of identification with their name and address to the polling station. While having received a voter notification letter is encouraged, it is not mandatory. Voters will mark their ballot for the next mayor of Ottawa, a city council candidate in their ward, and a school board trustee in their zone. Ballots will list the candidates, and voters must fill in the oval beside the names of their chosen candidates completely. If a mistake is made, the ballot can be returned to the election worker for correction.
Forms will be available at polling stations on voting days for residents not yet on the city’s voters’ list or those needing to update their information. Mail-in ballot applications are closed, and voter kits must be submitted by 8 p.m. on Friday, October 16, to be counted at designated locations.
