Ottawa's Advance Voting Day is October 16, one day fewer than 2022
Ottawa voters have one Advance Voting Day this year, Thursday Oct. 16, from 10 am to 8 pm. The City held one fewer advance voting day than in 2022, when two were held, partly because 2022's second day was a COVID-19 measure.
Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on ctvnews.ca.
Ottawa voters have one Advance Voting Day left before the October 26 municipal election: Thursday, October 16, with voting places open from 10 am to 8 pm, CTV News Ottawa reported on October 9.
The City of Ottawa already held four Special Advance Voting Days between October 1 and 4. A total of 27,553 votes were cast across those four days, at 10 locations across the city.
In 2022, Ottawa held two Advance Voting Days. City Clerk Caitlin Salter MacDonald told CTV News Ottawa that the second one was added because of the COVID-19 pandemic, following Ottawa Public Health recommendations to spread out voter turnout and reduce crowding at voting places. The 2026 schedule does not include a second day.
"In advance of the 2026 Municipal Elections, the Elections Office completed a thorough review of election processes, legislative requirements, and key election dates to establish a voting schedule that provides equitable access for electors while ensuring the election can be administered effectively and efficiently across the city," Salter MacDonald said in a statement to CTV News Ottawa.
Six ways to vote in person
Salter MacDonald said that, counting the four special advance days, the October 16 Advance Voting Day and Election Day on October 26, Ottawa electors have six in-person voting days in total. "Together with Voting Day on October 26, electors have a total of six in-person voting days to cast their ballot," she told CTV News Ottawa.
The window to apply for a mail ballot closed on September 15. Voters who did not apply by then must vote in person.
How this compares to past elections
Advance voting numbers have grown from one election to the next. The City reported 60,615 votes were cast during the two Advance Voting Days in 2022. In 2018, one Advance Voting Day brought in 41,163 ballots. The 27,553 votes from the four special advance days in 2026 do not yet include the October 16 count.
The City operated 10 Special Advance Voting locations in 2026, one more than the nine it ran in 2022.
Voting places for October 16 and for Election Day on October 26 open at 10 am and close at 8 pm. The City of Ottawa's election website has a tool to find your voting place. You can see all candidates running in your ward on the Ottawa 2026 candidates page.
Questions this story answers
When is Ottawa's Advance Voting Day in 2026?
Ottawa's Advance Voting Day is Thursday, October 16, 2026. Voting places will be open from 10 am to 8 pm. This is the one remaining in-person advance voting day, following four Special Advance Voting Days that the City held between October 1 and October 4. CTV News Ottawa reported on the schedule on October 9, 2026.
Why is there one fewer advance voting day than in 2022?
In 2022, the City of Ottawa held two Advance Voting Days. City Clerk Caitlin Salter MacDonald told CTV News Ottawa that the second day in 2022 was a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, added on Ottawa Public Health's recommendation to help spread out voter turnout and support physical distancing at voting places. The 2026 election schedule does not include that second day.
How many people voted during the Special Advance Voting Days in October 2026?
A total of 27,553 votes were cast during the four Special Advance Voting Days between October 1 and 4, 2026. That compares to 18,876 votes cast during Special Advance Voting in 2022 and 15,703 in 2018, according to CTV News Ottawa. The City also operated 10 Special Advance Voting locations in 2026, up from nine in 2022.
How many total in-person voting days does Ottawa have in 2026?
Ottawa voters have a total of six in-person voting days in 2026, according to City Clerk Caitlin Salter MacDonald. These are the four Special Advance Voting Days from October 1 to 4, the Advance Voting Day on October 16, and Election Day on October 26. All voting places on October 16 and October 26 open at 10 am and close at 8 pm.
Can I still vote by mail in Ottawa in 2026?
No. The City of Ottawa offered mail ballot voting for people who applied between September 1 and September 15, 2026. That window is now closed. If you did not apply for a mail ballot, you must vote in person, either on Advance Voting Day (October 16) or on Election Day (October 26), from 10 am to 8 pm.
How did the number of advance voting locations change compared to 2022?
The City ran Special Advance Voting at 10 locations in 2026, compared to nine locations in 2022. The City Clerk said this was part of a plan to provide equitable access for voters across Ottawa. Voting place details are on the City of Ottawa's election website.
How many advance votes were cast in previous Ottawa municipal elections?
For the two Advance Voting Days held in 2022, the City reported 60,615 votes. In 2018, when there was one Advance Voting Day, 41,163 people cast a ballot that day. The four Special Advance Voting Days in 2026 produced 27,553 votes, not counting the upcoming October 16 day. All figures come from CTV News Ottawa's October 9 report.
What is Election Day in Ottawa 2026?
Election Day in Ottawa is Monday, October 26, 2026. Voting places are open from 10 am to 8 pm. Voters choose the mayor, a city councillor for their ward, and school board trustees. You can see all candidates on the Ottawa 2026 election page at voche.me.
Where can I find my voting place in Ottawa?
The City of Ottawa provides a voting place lookup tool on its election website. You can also see all candidates running in your ward on the Ottawa 2026 candidates page at voche.me. Voting Day is Monday, October 26, 2026, with polls open from 10 am to 8 pm.
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