Ottawa voter turnout at 36.21 per cent, second lowest since amalgamation
The City of Ottawa says 314,393 of 868,248 eligible voters cast a ballot on October 26, the second lowest turnout since the city amalgamated in 2001.
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Ottawa drew 314,393 votes from 868,248 eligible voters on October 26, a turnout of 36.21 per cent, the City of Ottawa reported. CTV News Ottawa says that is the second lowest turnout since the city amalgamated in 2001.
Turnout in 2022 was 43.79 per cent, with 316,254 people casting a ballot, CTV News Ottawa reported. The 2026 result is 7.58 percentage points lower, and the number of votes cast is also smaller: 1,861 fewer people voted than in 2022, even though the pool of eligible voters grew.
Ward by ward
Gloucester-Southgate had the lowest ward turnout at 28.49 per cent of eligible voters, CTV News Ottawa reported. Rideau-Vanier was the next lowest at 28.57 per cent. Both wards sit below 29 per cent, meaning fewer than three in ten eligible voters cast a ballot.
Kitchissippi ward had the highest turnout of any ward in the city, CTV News Ottawa reported. Capital ward came next at 44.1 per cent. Orléans West-Innes was the only other ward above 40 per cent. All other wards fell between those extremes.
Results still unofficial
The City of Ottawa says official results will be published by October 30, 2026. The figures reported on election night, including the 36.21 per cent turnout, are unofficial. The city has published unofficial ward-by-ward totals on its own results page.
Mark Sutcliffe won a second term as mayor on election night, taking 44.6 per cent of the vote. Three new councillors were elected: Erin Coffin in Kanata South, Joanne Chianello in Kitchissippi, and Chelsea Walton in Stittsville. The 21 other councillors were re-elected to their seats.
The turnout figure covers only votes cast for city councillor and mayor races. School board trustee elections ran on the same day in the same polling places.
If you want to see how the results look ward by ward, the City of Ottawa's results page carries the unofficial counts. Visit /on/ottawa-2026/news for more coverage of the Ottawa election.
Questions this story answers
What was Ottawa's voter turnout in the 2026 municipal election?
The City of Ottawa reported that 36.21 per cent of eligible voters cast a ballot in the October 26, 2026 municipal election, according to CTV News Ottawa. That works out to 314,393 votes from 868,248 eligible voters. CTV News Ottawa called it the second lowest turnout since Ottawa amalgamated in 2001. Results at /on/ottawa-2026/news.
How does the 2026 Ottawa turnout compare to 2022?
Ottawa's 2022 municipal election drew 43.79 per cent of eligible voters, with 316,254 people casting a ballot, according to CTV News Ottawa. The 2026 election drew 36.21 per cent, with 314,393 votes from 868,248 eligible voters. That is a drop of 7.58 percentage points between elections.
Which Ottawa ward had the lowest voter turnout in 2026?
Gloucester-Southgate had the lowest voter turnout in Ottawa's 2026 municipal election at 28.49 per cent, according to CTV News Ottawa. Rideau-Vanier was the next lowest at 28.57 per cent of eligible voters casting a ballot.
Which Ottawa ward had the highest voter turnout in 2026?
Kitchissippi ward had the highest voter turnout of any ward in Ottawa's 2026 municipal election, according to CTV News Ottawa. Capital ward was the next highest at 44.1 per cent of eligible voters. Orléans West-Innes was the only other ward above 40 per cent.
When did Ottawa amalgamate, and why does that matter for turnout figures?
Ottawa amalgamated in 2001, when the old City of Ottawa and 11 surrounding municipalities merged into one. CTV News Ottawa uses that year as the starting point for comparing municipal election turnout figures. The 2026 turnout of 36.21 per cent is the second lowest in the 25 years since amalgamation.
How many people were eligible to vote in Ottawa's 2026 election?
The City of Ottawa reported 868,248 eligible voters in the 2026 municipal election, according to CTV News Ottawa. Of those, 314,393 people cast a ballot on October 26. In 2022, the City reported 316,254 votes cast, though the number of eligible voters that year is listed separately in earlier election records.
Where can I see the full results of Ottawa's 2026 municipal election?
The City of Ottawa says official results will be published by October 30, 2026. Unofficial results from election night are available on the City's website. You can also follow coverage of the Ottawa 2026 election at /on/ottawa-2026/news on this site.
What factors might explain the lower turnout in 2026?
CTV News Ottawa reported the turnout figure but did not provide analysis of the causes. The City of Ottawa has not given a reason for the lower participation. Elections research shows turnout in municipal elections varies by year and does not follow a single cause. The 36.21 per cent figure is what the City of Ottawa reported, and no official explanation has been published.
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