Ontario Municipal Election 2026
Your home. Your neighbourhood. Your voice.
Municipal elections are an opportunity to put tenants’ concerns on the table. Find the information you need to get ready to vote, ask candidates about housing and share voting resources in your community.
Tenants Vote is a nonpartisan initiative led by the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO).
2026 MUNICIPAL ELECTION INFORMATION BY COMMUNITY
Municipal elections are administered locally by each municipality. Select your community to download Tenants Vote resources and find official information about voting dates, locations, identification requirements and voting options.
Brampton Municipal Election 2026
Find Brampton municipal election information and Tenants Vote resources for Brampton. The resources are available for download below. PDF files include clickable links. Confirm voting dates, voting locations, identification requirements and voting options through the City of Brampton’s official municipal election website.
Cambridge Municipal Election 2026
Find Cambridge municipal election information and Tenants Vote resources for Cambridge. The resources are available for download below. PDF files include clickable links. Confirm voting dates, voting locations, identification requirements and voting options through the City of Cambridge’s official election website.
Caledon Municipal Election 2026
Find Caledon municipal election information and Tenants Vote resources for Caledon. The resources are available for download below. PDF files include clickable links. Confirm voting dates, voting locations, identification requirements and voting options through the Town of Caledon’s official election website.
Centre Wellington Municipal Election 2026
Find Centre Wellington municipal election information and Tenants Vote resources for Centre Wellington by clicking the link below. The graphics are viewable on social media from our partner. Confirm voting dates, voting locations, identification requirements and voting options through the Township of Centre Wellington’s official election website.
Erin Municipal Election 2026
Find Erin municipal election information and Tenants Vote resources for Erin by clicking the link below. The graphics are viewable on social media from our partner. Confirm voting dates, voting locations, identification requirements and voting options through the Town of Erin’s official election website.
Guelph Municipal Election 2026
Find Guelph municipal election information and Tenants Vote resources for Guelph by clicking the link below. The graphics are viewable on social media from our partner. Confirm voting dates, voting locations, identification requirements and voting options through the City of Guelph’s official election website.
Hamilton Municipal Election 2026
Find Hamilton municipal election information and download Tenants Vote resources for Hamilton. The resources are available for download below. PDF files include clickable links. Confirm voting dates, voting locations, identification requirements and voting options through the City of Hamilton’s official municipal election website.
Kitchener Municipal Election 2026
Find Kitchener municipal election information and Tenants Vote resources for Kitchener. The resources are available for download below. PDF files include clickable links. Confirm voting dates, voting locations, identification requirements and voting options through the City of Kitchener’s official election website.
London Municipal Election 2026
Find London municipal election information and Tenants Vote resources for London. The resources are available for download below. PDF files include clickable links. Confirm voting dates, voting locations, identification requirements and voting options through the City of London’s official municipal election website.
Mapleton Municipal Election 2026
Find Mapleton municipal election information and Tenants Vote resources for Mapleton by clicking the link below. The graphics are viewable on social media from our partner. Confirm voting dates, voting locations, identification requirements and voting options through the Township of Mapleton’s official election website.
Mississauga Municipal Election 2026
Find Mississauga municipal election information and Tenants Vote resources for Mississauga. The resources are available for download below. PDF files include clickable links. Confirm voting dates, voting locations, identification requirements and voting options through the City of Mississauga’s official election website.
Toronto Municipal Election 2026
Find Toronto municipal election information and Tenants Vote resources for Toronto. The resources are available for download below. PDF files include clickable links. Confirm voting dates, voting locations, identification requirements and voting options through the City of Toronto’s official election website.
Windsor Municipal Election 2026
Find Windsor municipal election information and Tenants Vote resources for Windsor. The resources are available for download below. PDF files include clickable links. Confirm voting dates, voting locations, identification requirements and voting options through the City of Windsor’s official election website.
Ottawa Municipal Election 2026
Find Ottawa municipal election information and Tenants Vote resources for Ottawa. The resources are available for download below. PDF files include clickable links. Confirm voting dates, voting locations, identification requirements and voting options through the City of Ottawa’s official election website.
Waterloo Municipal Election 2026
Find Waterloo municipal election information and Tenants Vote resources for Waterloo. The resources are available for download below. PDF files include clickable links. Confirm voting dates, voting locations, identification requirements and voting options through the City of Waterloo’s official municipal elections website.
Can’t Find your municipality? Contact ACTO to discuss adapting the graphics, sharing local resources, or connecting with other partners.
Ontario Renters at a Glance
Together, these figures show the scale of Ontario’s renter population and the housing-cost pressures many renter households face.
1.7+ Million
Ontario households rented their homes in 2021. That is nearly one in three households.
38.4%
of Ontario renter households spent at least 30% of their income on shelter, according to the 2021 Census. Households spending 30% or more of their before-tax income on shelter costs are considered to be facing an affordability challenge.
17.7%
of Ontario owner households met the same housing-cost threshold. The renter share was more than twice as high.
These are household measures, not counts of eligible voters. The affordability measure compares 2021 shelter costs with 2020 income.
Sources: Statistics Canada’s 2021 Census Profile: Ontario; To buy or to rent: Housing in the 2021 Census.
Why Municipal elections matter to tenants
Local decisions affect the homes and neighbourhoods tenants live in. Municipal governments make land-use decisions and, through local service arrangements, help fund and deliver housing and homelessness programs. Responsibilities differ between municipalities, regions and service managers.
Voting is one way to make tenants’ priorities part of the public conversation. In addition, ask candidates for specific commitments, compare their answers and stay involved when the new council makes decisions and the candidate must follow through on their commitments.
You do not have to own a home to have a stake in your community.
Tenants contribute to municipal property taxes through the rent they pay every month. A portion of the rent collected by a landlord helps cover the property taxes charged on the rental property. However, tenants generally do not receive the property tax bill or pay it separately to the municipality; the cost is included in their rent.
Your right to participate is not measured by the size of a tax bill. If you meet the voting requirements, renting your home does not stop you from voting.
Learn more about property-tax and automatic rent reductions from the Landlord and Tenant Board, and review Ontario’s 2026 Voters’ Guide for voter eligibility requirements.
Five questions tenants can ask candidates
These questions are suggested conversation starters. Municipal responsibilities and housing challenges differ between municipalities, regions and service managers, so ask candidates to explain what they can accomplish within their municipality’s authority.
- Safe, well-maintained homes: How would you improve enforcement of local property standards and help tenants get necessary repairs completed?
- Preventing displacement: What steps within municipal authority would you support to prevent tenants from losing their homes during major repairs or redevelopment?
- Affordable housing: How would you use municipal land, funding or partnerships to create and preserve homes affordable to low-income renters?
- Everyday services: How would your budget priorities improve the local services tenants rely on, such as transit, libraries and community spaces?
- Tenant participation and accountability: How will you involve tenants in housing decisions, and how will you report publicly on the commitments you make?
A useful follow-up: What would you do first, how would you fund it, and when would residents see results?
Get ready to vote
Municipal elections are administered by each municipality. Use these answers to begin preparing, and confirm local voting locations, methods and deadlines with your municipality’s elections office.
Eligibility and voter information
Can I vote if I rent my home?
Yes. To vote for municipal council, you must be a Canadian citizen, be at least 18 years old, qualify to vote in the municipality and not be legally prohibited from voting. Living in the municipality as a tenant is one way to qualify.
How do I check or update my voter information?
Check your municipality’s official election website or contact its municipal clerk. On or after September 1, 2026, requests to add or update your information go through your municipal clerk. If you have moved, check that your qualifying address is correct.
When and where can I vote?
Ontario’s municipal election day is Monday, October 26, 2026. Voting locations, advance-voting dates and available voting methods differ by municipality. Some municipalities may offer voting by mail, internet or another method. Consult your municipality’s official election website for current local information.
Voting options and accessibility
What identification do I need?
When voting in person, bring one piece of identification showing your name and address. Photo identification and a signature are not required. Accepted documents can include a driver’s licence, a health card showing your name and address, a lease or rental agreement, a utility bill or a credit card statement. A Canadian passport by itself is not accepted because the address is handwritten. If your name is already on the voters’ list but you do not have identification, you may be able to sign a Declaration of Identity.
What if I do not have a permanent address?
You may still be eligible to vote. Special residence rules apply when a person has no permanent lodging. Contact the municipal clerk to ask how to establish your voting residence and complete any required declaration.
What if I need an accommodation or another way to vote?
Contact your municipal elections office early. Ask about accessible voting, assistance and any available alternatives, such as voting by proxy, mail, telephone or internet. The available options and deadlines differ between municipalities.
Official information: Review the Ontario government’s 2026 Voters’ Guide, voter eligibility rules and acceptable identification list. Your municipality’s elections office is the authoritative source for local voting arrangements.
Your voice matters beyond Election Day
Voting is one way to participate. You can also raise concerns with candidates, connect with a tenant organization and take part in local consultations. Even if you are not eligible to vote, tenants can still contribute to conversations about their homes and communities.
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