How to Vote

Follow these five quick steps to make a voting plan. Plan ahead for a seamless voting experience.

Step 1

Check if you are eligible

You are eligible to vote if you are:

A Canadian citizen
At least 18 years old
Living in Burlington, or
Not living in Burlington, but you or your spouse own or rent property in Burlington

Step 2

Confirm you’re on the voters' list

Being registered on the voters' list makes in-person voting faster and ensures you receive a voter information letter, needed if voting online. The letter also advises of the advance voting and Voting Day dates, times and locations.

Check if you are on the Voters' List

Step 3

Review ward boundary changes

Minor changes to Burlington’s ward boundary structure were approved in May 2025 following a Council Composition and Ward Boundary Review. The ward boundary changes affect Wards 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Check the new ward boundary map to see if your ward has changed.

Step 4

Pick your preferred voting option, date and time

There are four ways to vote in the upcoming election:

Online, using internet voting, from Oct. 14 to 23*
In person at advance polls, on Oct. 17 and 20†
In person on Voting Day, Oct. 26†
By proxy

*Information on how to vote online will be included in your Voter Information Letter, which will be mailed to all eligible electors in early October. Online voting will be available from 10 a.m. on October 14 until 8 p.m. on October 23.

† In-person voting hours vary by day:

Oct. 17 – 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Oct. 20 – 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Oct. 26 – 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Step 5

Locate the closest voting location

In-person advance voting

In person advance voting on Oct. 17 and Oct. 20 is available at three locations. Eligible voters can vote at any voting location.

Voting Day

On Voting Day, Oct. 26, there are 24 in-person voting locations, four in each ward. Eligible voters can vote at any voting location in their ward. See voting locations by ward.

Access the support you need

Our goals is to make your voting experience as easy as possible.

2026 Election Accessibility Plan

What do I need to bring when I vote?

There are two things to bring with you when you vote in person:

Your voter information letter – it will save you time when you check in
One piece of valid ID that has your name and address on it. Photo ID is not required.

What if I don’t receive a Voter Information Letter in the mail?

Voter Information Letters (VIL) were mailed to the households of all eligible voters on the Voters’ List at the beginning of October. If you have not received your VIL by Oct. 13, please call 905-335-7777, ext. VOTE.

When you call, you will be asked to provide your name and qualifying address and take an oath. Once your identity is confirmed, a new VIL will be issued.

Re-issued VILs can be picked up at City Hall (426 Brant St.) during business hours (8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.), mailed to you (time permitting), or sent as a password-protected document by email.

Note: If you receive a VIL addressed to someone who does not live at your address, please write “Return to Sender” on the envelope and place it in your mailbox.

You can still vote in person without a VIL

If you don’t receive your Voter Information Letter and are eligible to vote, you can still vote in person at an advance poll (Oct. 17 or 20) or on Voting Day (Oct. 26).

When you vote in person, bring one piece of valid ID that shows your name and address.

Am I eligible to vote?

You can vote in the Burlington municipal election if you:

Are a Canadian citizen
Are at least 18 years old
Live in Burlington, or
Don’t live in Burlington, but you or your spouse own or rent property in Burlington

What should I expect if I vote online?

Online voting opens at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 14 and closes at 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct 23.

To vote online, you will need your Voter Information Letter (VIL). These letters are arriving by mail to the households of all eligible voters on the Voters’ List, starting in early October.
The VIL includes a Voter Registration Number and instructions for completing the online voting process, including a link to the online voting website. You can access the voting website (hosted by Voatz) on your computer or through your phone’s mobile browser.
As part of the process, you will be required to complete a two-step verification using your email address or mobile phone number to receive your voting PIN.
Please note: you will not be able to receive your voting PIN until online voting opens at 10 a.m. on Oct. 14.
The deadline to register for online voting is 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 23.

If you plan to vote online and you haven’t received your VIL by Oct. 13, please call 905-335-7777, ext. VOTE.

Online voting is secure and confidential. Our internet voting system, managed by Voatz Canada Ltd., uses advanced security measures, including two-factor authentication, to safeguard your voter information and protect your privacy. The voting platform is hosted on secure servers in Canada and complies with the Digital Governance Standards Institute’s technical requirements and best practices for online voting.

If you are having issues with online voting, please call 905-335-7777, ext. VOTE. Election Officials are available for support during the online voting period (Oct. 14 – 23), between 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., including weekends.

What should I expect if I vote in person?

When you arrive at your voting location, you will be greeted by City of Burlington election staff.

You will be asked to present your valid ID and voter information letter. Staff will check if you are eligible to vote. If you meet the requirements, you will be given a ballot.

Next, you will go behind a voting screen to privately complete your ballot.

To vote for your chosen candidate, fill in the bubble beside their name and take your folded ballot to the election staff member standing at the tabulator. The election staff member will feed your ballot into the tabulator and the process is complete.

Voters Experiencing Homelessness

Eligible voters without a permanent residence can vote in the 2026 Municipal Election.

If you are not on the Voters’ List

If a voter does not have identification showing a qualifying Burlington address and is not on the Voters' List, they should visit the Service Burlington counter at City Hall during regular business hours to complete an Affidavit of Residence.

The address where the voter has most often returned to eat or sleep during the past five (5) weeks is considered their residence.

They must also complete an Application to Amend the Voters' List – EL15 so their name can be added to the Voters' List.

Once completed, the Affidavit serves as proof of qualifying address and the voter can vote in person at any voting location during advance voting or at any location within their ward on Voting Day.

If the voter wishes to vote online, they can attend the Service Burlington counter at City Hall and request a Voter Information Letter which will include their unique voter registration code.

Voter Information Letters will be available after Oct. 1.

If you are already on the Voters' List

If the voter is already on the Voters' List and does not have identification showing their name and qualifying address, the voter can complete a Declaration of Identity form at an advance voting or Voting Day location.

If the voter wishes to vote online, they can attend the Service Burlington counter at City Hall, complete a Declaration of Identity form, and request a Voter Information Letter which will include their unique voter registration code.

Voter Information Letters will be available after Oct. 1.

How can I vote by proxy?

If you are unable to vote online, at the advance polls or on voting day, you can select someone to vote on your behalf. This is called proxy voting. Your proxy must be eligible to vote in Burlington.

To vote by proxy, you and the person voting for you, must complete an Appointment for Voting Proxy Form and have it certified at City Hall. Proxy forms are available at City Hall and online, here: Appointment for Voting Proxy Form [PDF]

Vote by proxy steps:

You and your proxy fill out the Appointment for Voting Proxy Form [PDF]
Your proxy brings the completed form and their valid ID to the Office of the City Clerk at 426 Brant St.
Your forms are reviewed, and if the requirements are met, they are certified
The person voting for you brings the certified form and their valid ID to the voting location and casts your vote at either an advance voting or Voting Day location.

Valid ID

Accepted types of ID include:

Ontario driver’s license
Ontario photo card
A cancelled personalized cheque
An insurance policy or statement
Any other document included on Ontario’s acceptable documents for voter identification list

Types of ID not accepted include:

International ID
Permanent resident cards

Who am I voting for?

For the list of candidates nominated to run in the 2026 municipal election, visit our List of Candidates page.

In October 2026, eligible voters in Burlington will vote to elect the:

Mayor of Burlington* (1)
Six members of Burlington City Council* (1 in each ward)
School Board Trustee(s)

Vote for trustees in one of four school boards, based on your school support. Choose from:

Halton Catholic District School Board
Halton District School Board
Conseil scolaire Viamonde
Conseil scolaire catholique Mon Avenir

*The Mayor and City Councillors also represent you on Halton Regional Council.

Note: In accordance with Bill 100, Better Regional Governance Act, 2026, the Chair of the Region of Halton may be appointed by the Province or appointed by the members of Regional Council. The position will not appear on the ballot. Learn more about Bill 100.