Electoral Process
When do I vote?
Who do we elect?
Who can vote?
Can I run?
How to vote!
The last municipal election was
Monday, October 24, 2022
The next municipal election is
Monday, October 26, 2026
Municipal elections take place every 4 years on the fourth Monday of October
The 2022-2026 term of office began on November 15, 2022 and will end on November 14, 2026
COUNTDOWN TO NEXT ELECTION
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Who do we Elect?
62 members are elected in total
Most individuals will vote for three candidates, one per office
City Mayor
One mayor is elected to represent the City of Ottawa at large
City Council
24 City Councillors – one elected per ward to represent them
School Board Trustees
Between Ottawa’s 4 school boards, there are 37 School Board Trustee positions – one elected per zone
To vote in a municipal election you must be:
A Canadian citizen
At least 18 years old
A resident of the City of Ottawa, or an owner or tenant in Ottawa – or the spouse of one
Not legally prohibited from voting
- Serving a sentence of imprisonment in a penal or correctional institution
- Corporations
- Acting as executor or trustee or in another representative capacity, except as a voting proxy.
- Convicted of a corrupt practice described in section 90(3) of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996
To run for the municipal government you must:
Meet all of the voting requirements
Not be disqualified from holding municipal office
Take a leave of absence from your job once nominated, and resign if elected (*only applies to municipal employees*)
Additional requirements for School Board Trustees
How to file your nomination for municipal council
Elected municipal officials play a vital role in Ottawa’s community by addressing issues to help the city flourish socially and economically. If you think you have what it takes, run for municipal council yourself and make your voice heard!
Fill out the nomination form
Pay a nomination fee of $100 ($200 if running for mayor)
Collect 25 signatures on your endorsement form from eligible city voters
Submit your form, fee, and signatures to the city clerk
How to vote!
1. Check your Eligibility
Check the voting eligibility requirements
2. Register to Vote
You can register, check your registration status, or update your information on the Register to Vote Ontario website
Registering places you on the Voters List, which is required to be on in order to cast a ballot.
You may register on election day, but it helpful to do so in advance as it will make voting much more quick and simple.
3. Prepare for Election Day
Once registered you will receive a Voter Identification Card, which indicates the location of your voting place on election day, along with the dates, times and locations of advance polling places.
Most people go to their polling place on election day to vote, but there are alternative options:
- Advanced polling locations
- Mail-in ballots
- Appoint a voter proxy
Remember to research the candidates and decide who you want representing you and your values!
4. Vote!
Voting places are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m on election day. Full-time workers are entitled to having 3 hours to vote, meaning they can be permitted a certain amount of time off work in order to do so, check with your boss to see how this applies to you.
What to bring to the polls:
- Piece of government-issued ID that displays your name and address (photo ID is not required)
- Voter Information Card (this is not required but will speed up the voting process)
Once you arrive at your polling place you must show your ID to receive your ballot. With your ballot, mark who you would like to vote for and place it in the ballot box. Finally, all thats left to do is go on with your life and wait for the results!
Canadian Civic Literacy
Municipal System