Nearly half of Ottawa mail-in ballots for Oct. 26 election were not returned on time
The City of Ottawa says 2,494 voters who were issued mail-in ballot kits did not return them by the Oct. 16 deadline and did not vote in advance polling. Those voters can still vote in person on Oct. 26.
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The City of Ottawa says 2,494 of the 5,511 special mail-in ballot kits it issued for the Oct. 26 election were not returned by the Oct. 16 deadline. CTV News Ottawa reported on Oct. 22 that the elections office contacted all of those voters by email on Oct. 20 and told them they can still vote in person on election day.
City Clerk Caitlin Salter MacDonald said in a statement to CTV News that the elections office issued kits to 5,511 eligible voters, received 2,957 back by the deadline, and then confirmed 2,494 had neither returned their kit nor voted during any advance voting days. "On October 20, the Elections Office contacted these electors to advise them that their kits had not been received by the deadline and to outline their additional opportunities to vote," Salter MacDonald said.
Several voters wrote on Reddit that they mailed their kits with enough lead time, yet received emails saying their ballot had not arrived. Canada Post told CTV News Ottawa that its Ottawa operations team found no delays or backlogs in mail delivery during the weeks of Oct. 5 and Oct. 12, though Oct. 12 was the Thanksgiving holiday. The company said there is no tracking system for those individual pieces.
By comparison, in 2022, the City issued 10,179 mail-in ballot kits and received 8,685 back on time.
Salter MacDonald said the timelines were set under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 and were intended to give enough time for ballots to travel to voters and return. Voters could mail their kit back or drop it off in person at the elections office or any City of Ottawa Client Service Centre.
Voters who have not yet voted can still cast a ballot in person on Oct. 26, voting day. Anyone who cannot vote in person should contact the elections office as soon as possible; staff can assist with options including proxy voting. To find your polling location, use the City's online tool or check the voter information letter mailed to you earlier this fall.
Questions this story answers
How many mail-in ballots were not returned to the City of Ottawa on time?
According to City Clerk Caitlin Salter MacDonald in a statement to CTV News Ottawa, the elections office approved and issued 5,511 special ballot voter kits to eligible Ottawa voters. The elections office received 2,957 kits by the Oct. 16 deadline. That left 2,494 electors who had not returned their kits and had not voted during any advance voting days. CTV News Ottawa reported this on Oct. 22, 2026.
Can voters whose mail-in ballots were not returned still vote?
Yes. The City of Ottawa says voters whose mail-in ballot kits were not received by the Oct. 16 deadline and who have not yet voted can cast a ballot in person on Oct. 26, voting day. The elections office contacted those 2,494 voters by email on Oct. 20 to tell them their kits had not been received and to outline their remaining options.
Why were so many Ottawa mail-in ballots not returned on time?
The reason is unclear. CTV News Ottawa reported that several voters wrote on Reddit that they mailed their kits with enough time, yet the elections office did not receive them. Canada Post told CTV News Ottawa that its Ottawa operations team found no delays or backlogs in mail delivery during the weeks of Oct. 5 and Oct. 12, though Oct. 12 was Thanksgiving. Canada Post said there is no tracking system for those individual pieces.
What should I do if I received an email saying my mail-in ballot was not received?
The City of Ottawa says you should plan to vote in person on Oct. 26. You can find your voting location using the city's online tool. If you cannot vote in person on election day, contact the elections office as soon as possible: staff can help you explore options, including voting by proxy. Details about proxy voting are on the city's website.
How does the 2026 mail-in ballot return rate compare to 2022?
In 2022, the City of Ottawa issued 10,179 mail-in ballot kits and received 8,685 back on time, according to CTV News Ottawa. For 2026, 5,511 kits were issued and 2,957 were received by the deadline. The 2026 election issued fewer kits and had a lower return rate: 2,957 of 5,511 kits returned (54 per cent), compared to 8,685 of 10,179 in 2022 (85 per cent).
What was the Oct. 16 deadline for?
Oct. 16 was the advance voting day in Ottawa's municipal election. It was also the deadline by which mail-in ballot kits had to reach the City's elections office to be counted. CTV News Ottawa reported that voters had the option to mail their kit back or drop it off in person at the elections office or any City of Ottawa Client Service Centre.
What did Canada Post say about the unreturned Ottawa mail-in ballots?
Canada Post issued a statement to CTV News Ottawa saying it had a team working with the city to assist in election mailings and that it takes care with election-related mail. The company said there were no delays or backlogs in its Ottawa network during the weeks of Oct. 5 and Oct. 12, 2026. Canada Post added it cannot determine exactly when individual pieces were deposited or arrived, because there is no tracking on those items.
Who is the City of Ottawa's City Clerk for the 2026 election?
City Clerk Caitlin Salter MacDonald is named in the CTV News Ottawa report as the official who issued the statement about unreturned mail-in ballots. She is quoted saying the elections office contacted all 2,494 affected voters on Oct. 20 to advise them their kits had not been received and to outline their remaining options for voting before or on Oct. 26.
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