Strong Voter Turnout Puts 2026 Advance Voting Ahead of 2022

HAMILTON, ON – Strong voter turnout during the first three weeks of advance voting has pushed the 2026 municipal election total beyond the number of advance ballots cast in the 2022 municipal election.

A total of 34,996 ballots have been cast since advance voting began, including 15,632 ballots cast across Hamilton this past weekend (October 17 and 18).

An additional 722 voters visited the Ballot-on-Demand poll at City Hall between October 13 and 16. Ballots cast at advance voting and Ballot-on-Demand locations will be counted on Election Day, October 26. 

By comparison, 30,893 ballots were cast over four days of advance voting during the 2022 municipal election, representing an increase in voter participation ahead of Election Day over the previous election in 2018.

Hamilton City Hall will continue to host a Ballot-on-Demand poll for voters of all wards until Friday, October 23. Election Day is Monday, October 26. There will be no advance voting this weekend. 

Here is what voters need to know:

• Polls will open at 10 am and will close at 8 pm
• Voters may vote at any voting location in their ward.
• A full list of voting locations can be found:
  • On the voting information card that was sent to all households. 
  • On the Where to Vote page, including a list of accessibility features at each location.
  • By contacting the City of Hamilton Elections office at 905-546-4365 or [email protected].
• Voters will not be asked to present a voter card. Voters are encouraged to bring one piece of identification, such as an Ontario Health Card (photo card) or Ontario driver’s licence. If a voter does not have ID, they will be asked to sign a Declaration of Identity. For a full list of acceptable forms of ID and for voter eligibility criteria, visit Municipal Election page

If a voter is unable to leave their home to visit a voting location, they may appoint a trusted friend or family member to vote in their place. This person is called a proxy. For detailed instructions on how to appoint a proxy, visit the Voter Proxy page.