Ottawa votes Monday: polling hours, 181 candidates and two acclaimed councillors
Voting locations open at 10 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. on Monday, October 26. About 868,000 eligible voters will choose a mayor, a ward councillor and a school board trustee.
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Ottawa votes Monday. Voting places across the city open at 10 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. on October 26, 2026, with 181 candidates on the ballot for mayor, city councillor in 24 wards, and school board trustee across four boards, CTV News reported Sunday.
The City of Ottawa said, as of September 20, there were 868,248 eligible voters for the election. Many have already voted. CTV News reported that 59,093 ballots were cast on Advance Voting Day on October 16, and 27,553 more were cast during the four Special Advance Voting days from October 1 to 4. The city received 2,957 mail ballots by the October 16 deadline, for a total of 89,603 votes cast before voting day.
Voter turnout in Ottawa's 2022 municipal election was 43.79 per cent, according to CTV News.
The mayor's race
Fourteen candidates are on the ballot for mayor. Incumbent Mark Sutcliffe is seeking a second term. He won the 2022 election with 51 per cent of the vote, according to CTV News.
Three-term Kitchissippi ward councillor Jeff Leiper is also running for mayor, along with homebuilder Alex Lawson and economist Neil Saravanamuttoo.
Two wards guaranteed a new councillor
Two wards will have a new representative no matter how Monday's vote goes, CTV News reported. Kitchissippi ward's seat is open because Leiper is running for mayor. Stittsville ward is open because current councillor Glen Gower is not seeking re-election after two terms.
Two incumbents were returned without a vote. CTV News reported that Riley Brockington was acclaimed for a fourth term in River Ward and David Brown will serve a second term in Rideau-Jock ward, both because no other candidates registered in those wards.
School board races
Voters will also choose trustees for four school boards: the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, the Ottawa Catholic School Board, the Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est, and the Conseil des écoles publiques de l'Est de l'Ontario.
Eight school board candidates were elected by acclamation before voting day, CTV News reported: Scott Phelan (Ottawa Catholic School Board, Zone 1), Sandra Moore (Zone 2), Brian Coburn (Zone 3), Joanne MacEwan (Zone 5) and Mark D Mullan (Zone 8), as well as Dan Boudria, Johanne Lacombe and André J. Thibodeau in Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est zones 8, 9 and 11.
New provincial rules take effect for trustees in all English public and Catholic school boards after this election. CTV News reported these include a new Chief Executive Officer position to lead budget development, a $10,000 cap on trustee honoraria, and a requirement to pay out of pocket for certain external organization membership fees.
Salaries
The mayor earns $213,921 a year and a councillor earns $119,620 a year, according to CTV News.
How to vote Monday
Find your polling place by checking your Voter Notification Letter, contacting Elections Ottawa, or using the Where Do I Vote? tool at the City of Ottawa's elections website. Polls are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Questions this story answers
What time do polling places open and close on Monday?
Voting locations in Ottawa will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, October 26, 2026, according to CTV News. You can find your polling place by checking your Voter Notification Letter, contacting Elections Ottawa, or using the Where Do I Vote? tool on the Elections Ottawa website.
How many candidates are on the Ottawa election ballot?
There are 181 candidates on the ballot for the 2026 Ottawa municipal election, according to CTV News. They are running for mayor, city councillor in 24 wards, and school board trustee across four boards: the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, the Ottawa Catholic School Board, the Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est, and the Conseil des écoles publiques de l'Est de l'Ontario.
Who is running for mayor of Ottawa in 2026?
There are 14 candidates on the ballot for mayor of Ottawa, according to CTV News. The four who received the most attention in the campaign are incumbent Mark Sutcliffe, who won the 2022 election with 51 per cent of the vote and is seeking a second term; Jeff Leiper, a three-term Kitchissippi ward councillor; Alex Lawson, a homebuilder; and Neil Saravanamuttoo, an economist. You can compare their positions at the Ottawa mayor candidates page on this site.
How many people voted in advance polls?
CTV News reported that, as of the city's count before voting day, 59,093 votes were cast on Advance Voting Day on October 16, and 27,553 votes were cast during the four days of Special Advance Voting between October 1 and 4. The city also received 2,957 mail ballots by the October 16 deadline, for a total of 89,603 ballots cast before voting day.
How many eligible voters are there in Ottawa for this election?
The City of Ottawa said, as of September 20, 2026, there were 868,248 eligible voters for the municipal election, according to CTV News. Voter turnout in the 2022 Ottawa municipal election was 43.79 per cent.
Which Ottawa wards will have a new councillor no matter what?
Two wards are guaranteed to have a new councillor after Monday's vote, according to CTV News. Kitchissippi ward will have a new representative because current councillor Jeff Leiper is running for mayor. Stittsville ward will also have a new councillor because current councillor Glen Gower chose not to seek a third term.
Were any Ottawa candidates elected without a vote this year?
Yes. CTV News reported that Riley Brockington was acclaimed for a fourth term in River Ward and David Brown will represent Rideau-Jock for a second term, both because no other candidates registered in those wards. Eight school board candidates were also acclaimed: Scott Phelan and Sandra Moore and Brian Coburn and Joanne MacEwan and Mark D Mullan, all in Ottawa Catholic School Board zones, and Dan Boudria and Johanne Lacombe and André J. Thibodeau in Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est zones.
What are the new rules for school board trustees after this election?
CTV News reported that new provincial rules take effect for trustees elected to all English public and Catholic school boards. These include a new Chief Executive Officer position to lead budget development, with budget matters referred to the Minister of Education when trustees cannot reach agreement. Trustee discretionary expenses and honoraria will be capped at $10,000. Trustees will also be required to pay out of pocket for certain external organization membership fees.
What is the salary for the Ottawa mayor and councillors?
The current salary for the mayor of Ottawa is $213,921 a year, according to CTV News. A city councillor earns $119,620 a year. Both figures are from the city's current compensation schedule and will apply to the people elected on October 26, 2026, for a four-year term running to October 2030.
Where can I find results after polls close?
Polls close at 8 p.m. on Monday, October 26. CTV News Ottawa said it will have election coverage online once the polls close. The City of Ottawa will publish results as ballots are counted. You can also follow the Ottawa election news page on this site for updates.
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