Full Breakdown
Ottawa Residents Vote in Municipal Election: How to Cast a Ballot
By Drooid · · How we work
Voting Day Overview
Ottawa’s municipal election is underway, with residents voting for mayor, city council and school board trustees. Polls are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. across the city, and long-term care and retirement homes may operate with reduced hours.
Eligibility and Identification Requirements
Anyone who lives in Ottawa, holds Canadian citizenship, is at least 18 years old and is not legally barred from voting may cast a ballot. The city’s elections office mailed notification letters to voters in late August and sent updated letters to those who changed their information. Residents who did not receive a letter can verify their status online, call the elections office at 613-580-2660, or email elections@ottawa.ca. If a name is missing from the list, an application to add or amend information can be completed at the polling station.
Voters must present one piece of personal identification that shows name and address. Acceptable IDs include an Ontario driver’s licence, health card, photo card, a mortgage or lease document, an insurance policy, an income-tax assessment, a Statement of Employment Insurance Benefits (T4E), a Canada Pension Plan or Old Age Security statement (T4A), a property-tax assessment, or a credit-card or bank statement. A full list is available on the city’s website. Those unable to provide acceptable ID must make a statutory declaration at the polling place.
Voting Locations and Accessibility
Ottawa has 369 designated voting locations. Each voter must go to the station assigned to their ward, which can be found via the city’s “Where Do I Vote?” online tool or the mailed notification. All sites are fully accessible, offering large-print ballots, magnifying sheets, accessible tabulators, curb-side voting and other accommodations. Voters who cannot travel to their assigned site may appoint a proxy to vote on their behalf until 6 p.m.
City Clerk’s Preparedness Statement
City clerk Caitlin Salter-MacDonald indicated that election staff are positioned throughout the day to answer questions and that teams are deployed at polling stations to assist electors. She expressed confidence that the city is ready for the expected high turnout.
Reporting of Results
Unpublished results will be posted on the city’s website after polls close at 8 p.m., providing residents with immediate access to the unofficial tallies.