86,592 Ottawa residents voted in advance, and unreturned mail ballots can still be cast in person Monday
Advance voting drew more Ottawa residents than in 2022, and the city has told the 2,494 people who requested mail ballots but did not return them that they can vote in person on October 26.
Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on ctvnews.ca.
Ottawa residents who requested a mail-in ballot but did not return it can still vote in person on Monday, October 26, CTV News Ottawa reported Sunday.
The City of Ottawa issued 5,511 special mail-in ballot kits for the election, according to CTV News Ottawa. Only 2,957 were received by the October 16 deadline. The city then identified 2,494 people who had not returned their kits and had not voted during any advance polling period, and contacted each of them to say they can still cast a ballot in person on Monday.
Polls open at 10 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Voters must attend their assigned polling location, which appears on their voter notification letter or can be found at Ottawa.ca/vote. Photo identification is not required, but voters must show identification with their name and a qualifying Ottawa address.
Advance voting drew more residents than in 2022
CTV News Ottawa reported that 86,592 Ottawa residents voted during five advance voting days in 2026. In 2022, 79,491 residents voted across six advance days. There are more than 144,000 more eligible voters in Ottawa in 2026 than in 2022, according to the CTV News Ottawa report.
The 2026 advance total includes 27,553 people who voted during the four special advance days from October 1 to 4, and 59,039 who voted on Advance Voting Day on October 16.
City Clerk Caitlin Salter MacDonald said in a statement to CTV News Ottawa on Sunday: "The Elections Office is well prepared to support electors on Monday, October 26, and is ready to deliver the municipal election."
Turnout varied by ward in 2022
CTV News Ottawa reported that ward-by-ward participation in 2022 ranged widely. Rideau-Vanier recorded the lowest turnout in that election, with 12,864 ballots cast by 34,574 eligible voters, equal to 37.18 per cent. Kitchissippi ward recorded the highest, with 15,693 ballots cast by 29,621 eligible voters, equal to 52.98 per cent.
In 2026, Kitchissippi ward does not have an incumbent in the council race. Councillor Jeff Leiper is running for mayor.
Results Monday night
The City of Ottawa expects unofficial results to be available by 11 p.m. on Monday. You can follow the Ottawa election news at /on/ottawa-2026/news for updates as they are published.
Questions this story answers
Can I still vote in person if I requested a mail ballot and did not return it?
Yes. CTV News Ottawa reported that the City of Ottawa has identified 2,494 people who requested mail-in ballot kits, did not return them by the October 16 deadline, and also did not vote during advance polling. The city contacted each of those people to tell them they can still vote in person on Monday, October 26. You will need to bring identification showing your name and qualifying Ottawa address to your assigned polling location.
How many Ottawa residents voted in advance in 2026?
CTV News Ottawa reported that 86,592 residents voted across five advance voting days in 2026. That compares with 79,491 advance votes cast across six advance days in 2022. The total includes 27,553 people who voted during the four special advance days from October 1 to 4, and 59,039 who voted on Advance Voting Day on October 16.
What time do Ottawa polling places open and close on Monday?
Voting places in Ottawa open at 10 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. on Monday, October 26, 2026, according to CTV News Ottawa. Some retirement homes and institutions may have different hours. Voters must attend their assigned polling location, which is printed on their voter notification letter or can be found at Ottawa.ca/vote.
When will Ottawa election results be available?
The City of Ottawa expects to have unofficial election results available by 11 p.m. on Monday, October 26, 2026, according to CTV News Ottawa. These are preliminary results; official results follow a review period after the vote.
How does 2026 advance voting compare with 2022?
CTV News Ottawa reported that 86,592 residents voted during five advance voting days in 2026, compared with 79,491 residents who voted during six advance days in 2022. There are more than 144,000 more eligible voters in Ottawa in 2026 than there were in 2022, so the advance-vote share of eligible voters fell as a percentage even as the raw number rose.
What identification do I need to vote in Ottawa on Monday?
According to CTV News Ottawa, residents must bring identification showing their name and qualifying Ottawa address. Photo identification is not required. Voters who are not on the voters' list can add themselves at their assigned polling station. Residents without acceptable identification can make a statutory declaration before receiving a ballot.
Which Ottawa ward had the highest voter turnout in 2022?
CTV News Ottawa reported that Kitchissippi ward recorded Ottawa's highest turnout in the 2022 municipal election, with 15,693 ballots cast by 29,621 eligible voters, representing 52.98 per cent. In 2026, Kitchissippi ward does not have an incumbent running: its councillor Jeff Leiper is a candidate for mayor.
Which Ottawa ward had the lowest voter turnout in 2022?
Rideau-Vanier recorded the lowest voter turnout in the 2022 Ottawa municipal election, with 12,864 ballots cast by 34,574 eligible voters, or 37.18 per cent, according to CTV News Ottawa. CTV News reported that at least one resident in that ward said they do not plan to vote in 2026.
How do I find my Ottawa polling location on Monday?
Your assigned polling location is printed on your voter notification letter. You can also find it using the Where Do I Vote? tool at Ottawa.ca/vote, or by contacting Elections Ottawa directly. CTV News Ottawa reported that City Clerk Caitlin Salter MacDonald said the Elections Office is prepared to support voters on Monday, October 26.
What offices are on the Ottawa ballot on Monday?
Ottawa voters will choose a mayor, one city councillor in their ward, and a school board trustee for the appropriate board: the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, the Ottawa Catholic School Board, the Conseil des ecoles catholiques du Centre-Est, or the Conseil des ecoles publiques de l'Est de l'Ontario. You can see all candidates at the Ottawa election candidates page on this site.
Sources
The pages this story draws on. Open one to check a claim yourself.
Found an error? Tell the editors with the corrections form. A correction is noted on the story it changes. Read our standards.
Topics
More from voche.me
Ottawa votes Monday: polling hours, 181 candidates and two acclaimed councillors
Nearly half of Ottawa mail-in ballots for Oct. 26 election were not returned on time
