Municipal Election - How, Where, and When to Vote - Even if You Are Not Yet Registered

By Aara Macauley , CFRC Broadcast Journalist 
The next municipal election is just a couple of weeks away on Monday, October 26, 2026, and there are many ways that you can vote in the city of Kingston, either in-person (on October 26 or in advance polls) or online - even if you’re a student from another city. During a municipal election, electors can vote for the Mayor, their district councillor, and school board trustees. 

Residents of Kingston should watch for their Voter Information Letter (VIL) in early October. While you do not need the letter to vote in person, it is confirmation that you’re registered to vote.   

If you are not sure if you are registered, or need to add or correct your information,  you can visit CityofKingston.ca/Vote or the Elections Office at City Hall (216 Ontario St.), Monday to Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Please ensure you have identification with your name and qualifying address in Kingston (see list of valid documents at the bottom of the article).

Even on election day, you can still vote by adding yourself to the voters' list at your voting location, which is based on your address. Not sure where to go? Visit CityofKingston.ca/Election.  

In-person voting  

Voting Day is Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. Voting locations will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.   

Advance voting will take place on Oct. 16 and 17, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  

Online voting  

Online voting will be available from Oct. 14 at 10 a.m. until Oct. 26 at 8 p.m. You must have a VIL to vote online, as the VIL contains your voter registration number and steps to complete the online voting process, including the website address.  

Accessibility and transportation  

Accessible voting equipment will be available at all advance voting and Voting Day voting locations.  Additional supports include assistance from a friend, election staff or curbside voting.  

Kingston Transit and Kingston Access Bus will provide free transportation for voters on Advance Voting Days and Voting Day.  If you take Kingston Transit, show your VIL on your way to and from your voting place.

Voter eligibility  

A person may be eligible to vote if they:  

• Are a Canadian citizen 
• Are at least 18 years of age 
• Live in Kingston or qualify as a non-resident elector 
• Are not prohibited from voting by law  

Types of voters

Resident - If you live in Kingston, you can vote here. It doesn't matter if you own, rent, live with others and don't pay rent, or don't have a fixed address - you're still eligible. Even if you or your spouse owns or rents more than one property, you have to vote in the district where you live.

Non-resident - If you live in one place but own or rent property somewhere else (like Kingston), you can vote in both places. You can only be a 'resident elector' in one municipality, but you can be a 'non-resident elector' in any other place where you own or rent property.

Spouse of non-resident - If your spouse can vote in Kingston as a non-resident elector, you can vote here too.

Post-secondary students

If you're a student living away from home for school, you are considered a non-resident voter and can vote in both your home community (where you usually live and plan to return) and the city where you live while at school.

Who cannot vote

You can't vote in Kingston's municipal election if you are:

• Serving a jail or prison sentence
• A corporation
• Acting as an executor, trustee, or in another role for someone else (unless you're a voting proxy)
• Someone convicted of corrupt practices as described in section 90(3) of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996

Voting locations

Advance Voting (Friday, Oct. 16, and Saturday, Oct. 17 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.)

District 1 – Countryside: Glenburnie Fire Hall, 1485 Unity Rd.

District 2 – Loyalist-Cataraqui: INVISTA Centre, 1350 Gardiners Rd.

District 3 – Collins-Bayridge: Edith Rankin Memorial United Church, 4080 Bath Rd.

District 4 – Lakeside: St. Andrew's By-The-Lake United Church, 1 Redden St.

District 5 – Portsmouth: Portsmouth Olympic Harbour, 53 Yonge St.

District 6 – Trillium: Isabel Turner Library, 935 Gardiners Rd.

District 7 – Kingscourt - Rideau: Rideau Heights Community Centre, 85 MacCauley St

District 8 – Meadowbrook - Strathcona: Crossroads United Church, 690 Sir John A. Macdonald Blvd.

District 9 – Williamsville: Calvin Park Library, 88 Wright Cres.

District 10 – Sydenham: Central Library, 130 Johnson St.

District 11 – King's Town: Artillery Park Aquatic Centre, 382 Bagot St.

District 12 – Pittsburgh: Gore Road Fire Hall, 211 Gore Rd.

Voting day (Monday, Oct. 26 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.)

Residents of Countryside District may vote in one of two locations on voting day.

District 1 – Countryside: Glenburnie Fire Hall, 1485 Unity Rd.

District 1 – Countryside: Joyceville Public School, 2903 Joyceville Rd.

District 2 – Loyalist-Cataraqui: INVISTA Centre, 1350 Gardiners Rd.

District 3 – Collins-Bayridge: Bayridge Secondary School, 1059 Taylor-Kidd Blvd.

District 4 – Lakeside: Frontenac Secondary School, 1789 Bath Rd.

District 5 – Portsmouth: Loyalist Collegiate and Vocational Institute (LCVI), 153 Van Order Dr.

District 6 – Trillium: École secondaire catholique Marie-Rivier, 1381 Demers Ave.

District 7 – Kingscourt Rideau:  Rideau Heights Community Centre, 85 MacCauley St.

District 8 – Meadowbrook - Strathcona: Crossroads United Church, 690 Sir John A. Macdonald Blvd

District 9 – Williamsville: Memorial Centre, 303 York St.

District 10 – Sydenham: Winston Churchill Public School, 530 Earl St.

District 11 – King's Town: Royal Canadian Legion Branch 560, 734 Montreal St.

District 12 – Pittsburgh: Kingston East Community Centre, 779 Highway 15

Residents of long-term care homes and retirement homes will have special voting places at their buildings on voting day. Only residents of these homes will be able to vote here.

Candidates

A list of all candidates and their contact information can be found here: https://www.cityofkingston.ca/council-and-city-administration/elections/candidates/candidate-list/

 

*Valid identification:

Ontario Driver's License
Ontario Health Card (if your name and address appear on the card)
Ontario Photo Card
Ontario motor vehicle permit (vehicle portion)
Cancelled personalized cheque
Mortgage statement, lease or rental agreement relating to property in Ontario
Insurance policy or insurance statement
Loan agreement or other financial agreement with a financial institution
Document issued or certified by a court in Ontario
Any other document from the government of Canada, Ontario or a municipality in Ontario or from an agency of such a government
Any document from a Band Council in Ontario established under the Indian Act (Canada)
Income Tax Assessment Notice
Child Tax Benefit Statement
Statement of Employment Insurance Benefits Paid T4E
Statement of Old Age Security T4A (OAS)
Statement of Canada Pension Plan Benefits T4A (P)
Canada Pension Plan Statement of Contributions
Statement of Direct Deposit for Ontario Works
Statement of Direct Deposit for Ontario Disability Support Program
Workplace Safety and Insurance Board Statement of Benefits T5007
Property tax assessment
Credit card statement, bank account statement, or RRSP, RRIF, RHOSP or T5 statement
CNIB Card or a card from another registered charitable organization that provides services to persons with disabilities
Hospital card or record
Document showing campus residence, issued by the office or officials responsible for student residence at a post-secondary institution
Document showing residence at a long-term care home under the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021, issued by the Administrator for the home
Utility bill for hydro, water, gas, telephone or cable TV or a bill from a public utilities commission
Cheque stub, T4 statement or pay receipt issued by an employer
Transcript or report card from a post-secondary school