---
title: "86,592 Ottawa residents voted in advance, and unreturned mail ballots can still be cast in person Monday"
description: "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."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/news/ottawa-advance-turnout-election-day-2026-10-25"
last_updated: "2026-10-25T23:45:27.157Z"
---

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](/on/ottawa-2026/candidates/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](/on/ottawa-2026/news) for updates as they are published.

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