Voting in the Municipal Election

Be Election-Ready! This page provides everything you need to know about voting in the City of Cambridge, including who can vote, how and where to vote, key dates, and what to bring with you. Whether you’re a first-time voter or a returning one, we’re here to help make the process easy, accessible, and secure. 

Municipal Elections at a Glance

  • Check if you’re on the Voters’ List through the city's Voter Information Portal
  • Review your eligibility: you must be a Canadian citizen, 18+, and a resident/owner/tenant in Cambridge (or their spouse).
  • Plan how and where you’ll vote: voting methods, advance voting, and Election Day locations will be posted once finalized.
  • Bring acceptable ID showing your name and qualifying address on voting day.
  • Choose how you’ll vote: advance voting, Election Day, curb‑side voting, or at‑home voting (details coming).
  • Follow ballot instructions carefully and ask an election official if you need process‑related assistance.
Date Details
May 1, 2026 Beginning of Candidate Nomination Period and Third-Party Advertiser Registration Period.
June 1, 2026 Cut-off to register to update school support through MPAC
August 12, 2026 Cut-off to add or update your information on the Voter's List through Elections Ontario
August 21, 2026 Nomination Day: Candidates may File between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
August 24, 2026 Certification Day: certified candidates will be posted online 
September 8, 2026 Applications to revise the Voters' List begins
September  Mail out of Voter Notification Letters
September 26 to October 26, 2026 Online Voting
September 26, 2026 Advanced Voting: Preston Auditorium 
October 6 to 10, 2026 Advanced Voting: City Hall
October 17, 2026 Advanced Voting: Hespeler Memorial Arena
October 26, 2026 Election Day
November 15, 2026 First Day of the new term of council

Step-by-Step Voting Guide

1. Confirm You're Eligibility

You can vote in the City of Cambridge Municipal Election if you are:

  • A Canadian Citizen
  • At least 18 years old on Voting Day
  • A resident of Cambridge, or an Owner or tenant of land in Cambridge (or their spouse)
  • Not otherwise prohibited from voting by law

See below for more information on eligibility requirements!

  1. Resident elector: You are eligible to vote if you live in the municipality. This includes individuals who own or rent their home, live in shared accommodation without paying rent, or live in the municipality without a fixed address.
  2. Non‑resident elector: You are eligible to vote if you own or rent property in the municipality but live elsewhere. You may only be a resident elector in one municipality, but you can be a non‑resident elector in any other municipality where you own or rent property.
  3. Spouse of a non‑resident elector: You are eligible to vote if your spouse owns or rents property in the municipality, even if it is not the municipality where you live.

If you’re a student living in the City of Cambridge while attending school, and you still consider another municipality to be your permanent home, meaning the place you normally live and return to during school breaks, you are eligible to vote in both Cambridge and your home municipality.

  • If you qualify to vote in more than one municipality, you may vote in each of those municipal elections. For example, if you are a resident elector in one municipality and a non‑resident elector in several others, you may vote in all of them.
  • Exception for upper‑tier elections: If two or more of the municipalities where you qualify are lower‑tier municipalities within the same upper tier municipality (i.e., the Region of Waterloo), you may vote only once for any office elected at the regional level.

2. Make Sure You're Registered

To help ensure a smooth voting experience, electors are encouraged to confirm they are on the Voters List and that their information is accurate before Voting Day.

The City's voter services portal allows eligible electors to:

  • Confirm they are on the Voters List
  • Update their name or address information
  • Add themselves to the Voters List, if eligible

Select the Voter Information Portal here to get started.

Electors who are unable to use the Voter Services Portal may also update their voter information:

  • In person at any Advance Voting Location
  • At their voting location on Voting Day
  • By visiting City Hall during regular business hours for assistance

Electors should ensure they bring the required identification when updating their information or registering to vote. Acceptable identification requirements can be found on this page.

For the quickest service, electors are encouraged to review and update their information through the Voter Information Portal before attending an advance vote or voting on Election Day.

Electors who wish to vote online must complete the online voting registration process before accessing online voting.
Online voting registration opens September 15.
Eligible electors who wish to vote online must register through the Online Registration Portal (available on September 15). All electors on the Voters List will receive a Voter Notification Letter, which contains the information required to access the online voting system. However, receiving a Voter Notification Letter alone does not register you for online voting. Electors must complete the online voting registration process through the Online Registration Portal (available on September 15) before they can cast an online ballot.
If you do not receive your Voter Notification Letter or need assistance accessing the information required to vote online, please contact the Election Office.

3. Choose How, When and Where You'll Vote

In‑Person Voting (Tabulator):
Eligible electors may vote in person at a designated voting location using a tabulator. Voters will mark their ballot privately and securely tabulate it on site with assistance available if required. 
Online Voting:
Eligible electors may vote online during the designated voting period using a secure voting system. This option allows voters to cast their ballot remotely using an internet‑connected device.
At‑Home Voting Program:
Eligible electors who are unable to leave their home due to a disability or medical reason may apply to participate in the At‑Home Voting Program. 
Please contact the Election Office to apply or to obtain additional information about eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and the voting process.
Proxy Voting:
Eligible electors may appoint another eligible elector to vote on their behalf during the designated Proxy Voting Period. Information on eligibility, how to appoint a proxy, required forms, and key deadlines will be provided once details are finalized.

4. Find Your Voting Location

Visit the Where to Vote page for information on wards, voting locations, voting dates and times, in-person voting opportunities, online voting, and other important election resources to help you cast your ballot.

5. Bring Acceptable Identification

To ensure a smooth voting experience, all electors must present valid identification when casting their ballot. Electors will be required to provide either one piece of government-issued photo identification showing their name and qualifying address, or two acceptable pieces of identification that together show their name and qualifying address. Acceptable forms of identification are prescribed under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 and are listed below.
Please note that your Voter Notification Letter is not an acceptable form of identification.

Your ID must show both your name and qualifying address, as required under the Municipal Elections Act. Acceptable forms of identification, as outlined in Ontario Regulation 304/13 Schedule 1, are listed below.

Schedule 1

1. An Ontario driver’s licence.

2. An Ontario Health Card (photo card).

3. An Ontario Photo Card.

4. An Ontario motor vehicle permit (vehicle portion).

5. A cancelled personalized cheque.

6. A mortgage statement, lease or rental agreement relating to property in Ontario.

7. An insurance policy or insurance statement.

8. A loan agreement or other financial agreement with a financial institution.

9. A document issued or certified by a court in Ontario.

10. Any other document from the government of Canada, Ontario or a municipality in Ontario or from an agency of such a government.

11. Any document from a Band Council in Ontario established under the Indian Act (Canada).

12. An income tax assessment notice.

13. A Child Tax Benefit Statement.

14. A Statement of Employment Insurance Benefits Paid T4E.

15. A Statement of Old Age Security T4A (OAS).

16. A Statement of Canada Pension Plan Benefits T4A (P).

17. A Canada Pension Plan Statement of Contributions.

18. A Statement of Direct Deposit for Ontario Works.

19. A Statement of Direct Deposit for Ontario Disability Support Program.

20. A Workplace Safety and Insurance Board Statement of Benefits T5007.

21. A property tax assessment.

22. A credit card statement, bank account statement, or RRSP, RRIF, RHOSP or T5 statement.

23. A CNIB Card or a card from another registered charitable organization that provides services to persons with disabilities.

24. A hospital card or record.

25. A document showing campus residence, issued by the office or officials responsible for student residence at a post-secondary institution.

26. A document showing residence at a long-term care home under the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021, issued by the Administrator for the home.

27. A utility bill for hydro, water, gas, telephone or cable TV or a bill from a public utilities commission.

28. A cheque stub, T4 statement or pay receipt issued by an employer.

29. A transcript or report card from a post-secondary school.

6. Vote!

You’ve checked your eligibility, confirmed your ward, brought the right ID, and received your ballot, now you’re ready to vote.

  • Follow the instructions on your ballot: It will tell you how many candidates you may select for each office.
  • Mark your choices clearly: Use the marking tool provided by election officials and follow instructions on how to mark your ballot to ensure your vote is counted correctly.
  • Take your time: If you’re unsure about anything, ask an election official, they can provide guidance on the process, but cannot tell you who to vote for.
  • Review your ballot before submitting it: Make sure you’ve marked your choices the way you intended.

  • Place your completed ballot into the provided secrecy sleeve to protect your privacy as you exit the booth.

  • After leaving the voting booth with your ballot in the secrecy sleeve, go to the designated election official.
  • Election officials will place your ballot into the ballot box on your behalf to ensure the process is secure and consistent.
  • Once your ballot is deposited, you’re done! You’ve successfully cast your vote.

Need Assistance?

If you need help at any point during the voting process, support is available:

Electors who require assistance marking their ballot or who need interpretation support may choose a trusted individual to help them.

  • This person must take an oath to ensure the secrecy and integrity of your ballot.
  • Election officials will guide both of you through the process and ensure all requirements are met.

Trained election officials are available to provide assistance while maintaining the confidentiality of your vote. They can help with:

  • Reading and marking the ballot
  • Using the secrecy sleeve
  • Navigating the voting location
  • Understanding the process (but not choosing who to vote for)

Eligible electors without a permanent residence may still be entitled to vote in the 2026 Municipal and School Board Election.

For voting purposes, your residence is considered to be the place where you have eaten or slept most often during the past five weeks. This may include a shelter, drop-in centre, community agency, or another location within the City of Cambridge.

The address of that location will be used to determine your voting residence and to add your name to the Voters List.

To be added to the Voters List, please complete the Affidavit of Residence form. Completed forms may be submitted to any Advance Voting location, or an applicable Election Day location. If you require assistance completing the form or determining your voting residence, please contact the Election Office.

More Information

For more information regarding Elections, contact the City of Cambridge's Clerks' Office

Clerks' Office
50 Dickson Street
PO Box 669 
Cambridge, ON N1R 5W8
Telephone: (519) 513-6415