Learn more about municipal elections

March 27, 2025

• First day for candidates to file their nomination forms for the Office of City Councillor, Ward 20 (Osgoode). A candidate’s campaign period begins once their nomination forms have been filed, meaning they may begin accepting contributions and spending  money on their campaign.
• First day for an individual, corporation, or trade union to file a notice of registration as a third party advertiser. The campaign period for a registered third party advertiser begins once their registration paper has been filed, meaning they may begin accepting contributions and spending money on their campaign.

May 2, 2025

• Nomination Day.
  • Candidates have until 2 pm to file their nomination forms.
  • A candidate who wishes to withdraw their nomination has until 2 pm to notify the Clerk by filing a written withdrawal.
  • Nominations or withdrawals cannot be accepted after 2 pm.
• First day an election sign can be placed on private and public property.

May 15, 2025

• Copies of the Voters’ List are available to certified candidates upon written request to the Elections Office.
• Voter Notification Letters are mailed to eligible electors.
• Online Revision Period begins and application period for Special Mail-In Ballot begins.
  • The “Am I on the Voters’ List?” search tool will be available, allowing electors to check if they are registered to vote and see how their information is currently presented on the Voters’ List. Electors may use this tool from May 15 to May 23, 2025 at 4:30 pm to submit an application requesting that their information be updated or added to the voters’ list.
  • Electors may also submit a paper application requesting that their information be updated or that their name be added or removed from the Voters’ List. Electors may still submit applications to update or add their information to the Voters’ List at their voting place.
  • Electors may submit an application requesting to vote by Special Mail-In Ballot. An elector must appear on the Voters’ List to request to vote by Special Mail-in Ballot.

May 23, 2025

• End of online Revision Period and application period for Special Mail-in Ballot at 4:30 pm.

May 26, 2025

• Final expense limits certificate to be provided to candidates and third parties by this date.
• Copies of the “Interim List of Changes” to the voters’ list are available to certified candidates upon written request to the Elections Office.
• The Elections Office will begin mailing Special Mail-in Ballot Voter Kits to the electors who have registered to receive a special mail-in ballot. Electors will be required to mail or hand-deliver their completed Special Mail-in Ballot to the Elections Office at 1221 B Cyrville Road. Electors can also hand-deliver their completed Special Mail-in Ballot to the City’s Client Service Centres, including the Metcalfe Client Service Centre (8243 Victoria Street) or Laurier Client Service Centre (110 Laurier Avenue W) by 4:30 pm on Voting Day (June 16, 2025). Special Mail-in Ballots received after 4:30 pm on June 16, will not be counted.

June 6, 2025

• Advance Vote Day

• Voting places open from 10 am to 8 pm.

June 13, 2025

• Last day for an individual, corporation, or trade union to file a notice of registration as a third party advertiser.
• Notices of registration must be filed by 4:30 pm.

June 16, 2025

• Voting Day

• With the exception of institutions and retirement homes that may have reduced voting hours, voting places will be open from 10 am to 8 pm.
• Electors have until 4:30 pm on June 16 to deliver their completed Special Mail-in Ballots to the Elections Office, or the City’s Client Service Centres, including the Metcalfe Client Service Centre (8243 Victoria Street), or Laurier Client Service Centre (110 Laurier Avenue W).
• Unofficial election results expected by 10:30 pm.

June 17, 2025

• The City Clerk is expected to declare the results of the by-election official.

• Subject to the declaration of results, the new Councillor-elect is expected to take the Declaration of Office, which is required to take the seat, under Section 232 of the Municipal Act, 2001.

June 19, 2025

• Election signs must be removed from private and public property by 11:59 pm.

July 31, 2025

• Campaign period ends for candidates and registered third parties, meaning they cannot accept any contributions or incur any expenses. Candidates or registered third parties who have a deficit may file a Notice of Extension of Campaign Period, Form 6, by 4:30 pm on this date.

August 3, 2025

• Last day for the City Clerk to provide candidates and third party advertisers with notice of the financial filing requirements and penalties.

August 29, 2025

• Last day for a candidate or third party advertiser to apply to Superior Court of Justice to extend the time to file their initial financial statement.

September 2, 2025

By 2 pm:

• Last day for candidates and third party advertisers to file an initial financial statement and auditor’s’ report, if required, for the reporting period ending July 31, 2025.
  • Note: An auditor’s report is required if the candidate is participating in the Contribution Rebate Program. An auditor’s report is also required for candidates and third party advertisers if the total contributions received, and total expenses incurred in the election campaign up to the end of the relevant reporting period are each equal to or more than $10,000.
• Last day for a candidate or third party advertiser to notify the City Clerk, in writing, of a filing extension received from the Superior Court of Justice.

September 3, 2025

• First day an elector can apply for a compliance audit of a candidate or third party advertiser’s initial campaign finances, even if the candidate or third party advertiser has not filed a financial statement.

October 2, 2025

By 2 pm:

• Last day for a candidate or third party advertiser to file an initial financial statement and auditor’s report, if required, and pay the $500 late filing fee.
  • Note: An auditor’s report is required if the candidate is participating in the Contribution Rebate Program. An auditor’s report is also required for candidates and third party advertisers if the total contributions received, and total expenses incurred in the election campaign up to the end of the relevant reporting period are each equal to or more than $10,000.

• Penalties take effect at 2:01 pm.

December 1, 2025

• Last day for an elector to apply for a compliance audit of a candidate or third party advertiser’s campaign finances.
  • If a candidate or third party advertiser files their initial financial statement within the 30-day grace period (which begins on September 2, 2025 at 2:01 pm and ends on October 2, 2025, at 2:00 pm), the 90-day period to apply for a compliance audit begins the day after they filed their initial financial statement. These dates will be posted on ottawa.ca/vote as required.
  • If a candidate or third party advertiser received a filing extension from the Superior Court of Justice, the 90-day period to apply for a compliance audit begins the day after the extension expires. These dates will be posted on ottawa.ca/vote as required.

February 2, 2026

• Campaign period ends for candidates and third party advertisers that extended their campaign, meaning they cannot accept any contributions or incur any expenses.
• Last day for the City Clerk to provide candidates and third party advertisers with notice of the filing requirements and penalties for supplementary financial statements and auditor’s reports.

March 3, 2026

• Last day for a candidate or third party advertiser to apply to Superior Court of Justice to extend the time to file their supplementary financial statement.

March 4, 2026

By 2 pm:

• Last day for those who filed a Notice of Extension of Campaign Period - Form 6 to extend the campaign period to file a supplementary financial statement and auditors’ report, if required, for the reporting period ending February 2, 2026.
  • Note: An auditor’s report is required if the candidate is participating in the Contribution Rebate Program. An auditor’s report is also required for candidates and third party advertisers if the total contributions received, and total expenses incurred in the election campaign up to the end of the relevant reporting period are each equal to or more than $10,000.
• Last day for a candidate or third party advertiser to notify the City Clerk of a filing extension received from the Superior Court of Justice.

March 5, 2026

• First day an elector can apply for a compliance audit of a candidate or third party advertiser’s supplementary campaign finances, if required, even if the candidate or third party advertiser has not filed a financial statement.

April 7, 2026

By 2 pm:

• Last day for a candidate or third party advertiser to file a supplementary financial statement and auditor’s report, if required, and pay $500 late filing fee.
  • Note: An auditor’s report is required if the candidate is participating in the Contribution Rebate Program. An auditor’s report is also required for candidates and third party advertisers if the total contributions received, and total expenses incurred in the election campaign up to the end of the relevant reporting period are each equal to or more than $10,000.

• Penalties take effect at 2:01 pm.

June 2, 2026

• Last day for an elector to apply for a compliance audit on a candidate or third party advertiser’s supplementary financial statement.
  • If a candidate or third party advertiser files their supplementary financial statement within the 30-day grace period (which begins on March 4, 2026 at 2:01 pm and ends on April 7, 2026, at 2:00 pm), the 90-day period to apply for a compliance audit begins the day after they filed their initial financial statement. These dates will be posted on ottawa.ca/vote as required.
  • If a candidate or third party advertiser received a filing extension from the Superior Court of Justice, the 90-day period to apply for a compliance audit begins the day after the extension expires. These dates will be posted on ottawa.ca/vote as required. 

Municipal elections in Ontario, including the City of Ottawa’s, are governed by the provincial Municipal Elections Act, 1996 (MEA) which provides rules for the administration of elections. The MEA expressly states that the City Clerk, and by extension the Elections Office, is responsible for the preparation and conduct of municipal elections. As such, staff are not in a position to interpret the legislation, provide advice to candidates or third party advertisers, nor investigate or review any campaign related matters.

In accordance with the MEA, neither the City Clerk nor any other City employee have a role in investigating concerns related to candidate or third party advertising campaigns. This statutory oversight and investigatory role lies with the Election Compliance Audit Committee (ECAC). The ECAC is a statutory body responsible for reviewing and making decisions on applications for municipal election campaign finance compliance audits, and on reports from the City Clerk regarding apparent contraventions of contribution limits prescribed by the MEA resulting from the regular municipal election or any by-election held during the term of office for the City Council for which the Committee was appointed. 

For more information on ECAC, visit ottawa.ca/ecac.

By-law and Regulatory Services is responsible for the enforcement of the City’s Signs on City Roads By-law and Temporary Signs on Private Property By-law. Any concerns or complaints regarding election signs should be directed to 3-1-1.

Interfering with or damaging election signs is an offence under the Criminal Code of Canada. Individuals that witness election sign tampering can contact the Ottawa Police at 613-236-1222. Owners of election signs that are tampered with can report the incidents online at ottawapolice.ca or through the Police Reporting Unit at 613-236-1222, extension 7300.

Provincial legislation

• Municipal Elections Act, 1996
• Municipal Act, 2001
• Education Act
• Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005

City By-laws

• Signs on City Roads By-law
• Temporary Signs on Private Property By-law

Changes to Provincial legislation

Municipal elections in all Ontario municipalities, including the City of Ottawa, are governed by the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 (the “MEA”), and the Municipal Act, 2001.

Bill 3

On September 8, 2022, Bill 3, Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, 2022, received Royal Asset, making changes to several Acts, including the following changes to the Municipal Act, 2001, with respect to vacancies in the Office of the Mayor (“office of head of council”):

• If a vacancy occurs in the office of head of council, the City shall require a by-election to be held, in accordance with the MEA and any regulations, to fill the vacancy. 
• Subject to subsection (3) and the regulations, if any, the following rules apply to filling vacancies in the office of head of council:
  • Within 60 days after the day the office is declared vacant, the City shall pass a by-law requiring a by-election to be held to fill the vacancy.
  • If a court declares the office of head of council to be vacant, the City shall act within 60 days after the court makes its declaration.
  • If a vacancy occurs within 90 days before voting day of a regular election, the City is not required to fill the vacancy.
• Subject to the regulations, if any, if a vacancy in the office of head of council occurs after March 31 in the year of a regular election, within 60 days after the day a declaration of vacancy is made, the City shall fill the vacancy by appointing a person who has consented to accept the office if appointed.

Bill 254

On Monday, April 19, 2021, Bill 254, Protecting Ontario Elections Act, 2021 received Royal Assent, making the following changes to the MEA:

• Clerks may put conditions in place that would allow candidates and third party advertisers to submit their nomination and registration forms electronically. Endorsements of a nomination that is filed electronically must still be collected as original signatures and a person who files a nomination that must be endorsed shall retain the copy of the document bearing the original endorsement signatures.
• A registered third party advertiser may withdraw their registration by filing a written withdrawal with the Clerk during the time for filing a notice of registration (no later than the Friday before Voting day, at a time when the Clerk’s office is open).
• If a registered third party advertiser files a nomination to run for office, their third party advertiser registration is deemed to be withdrawn and their advertising campaign automatically closes.

Bill 204

On Thursday, October 1, 2020, Bill 204, Helping Tenants and Small Businesses Act, 2020, received Royal Assent. The Bill, in part, provides that beginning in 2024, the Province’s Chief Electoral Officer will be responsible for preparing the Preliminary Voters’ List for municipal elections as well as establishing and maintaining a permanent register of electors rather than the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC). In addition, Bill 204 makes the following revisions to several Acts:

• The MEA is amended to move the responsibility for preparing the Preliminary Voters’ List in municipal elections from the MPAC’s to the Province’s Chief Electoral Officer, beginning in 2024.
• The responsibilities of the City Clerk with regard to updating the Voters’ List are adjusted accordingly, as are the dates regarding the calculation of contribution and spending limits.
• The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation Act, 1997 is amended to require the Corporation to provide information to the Chief Electoral Officer free of charge, for the purposes of establishing and maintaining a permanent register of electors.

Bill 218

On Friday, November 20, 2020, Bill 218, Supporting Ontario's Recovery and Municipal Elections Act, 2020, received Royal Assent making a number of changes to the MEA. These changes include:

• Removing the option to hold ranked ballot elections in Ontario municipalities by revoking Ontario Regulation 310/16 (Ranked Ballot Elections) in its entirety, and by repealing Subsections 41.1 and 41.2 of the MEA.
• Moving Nomination Day in a regular election from the fourth Friday in July to the third Friday in August.
• Amending Section 42 to allow by-laws authorizing the use of vote-counting equipment and alternative voting methods to be passed on or before May 1 in the year of the election.
• Moving the date for establishing procedures and forms for the use of any voting and vote-counting equipment or alternative voting method to June 1 in the year of the election.

For more information on these changes, visit the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing’s website.

Amendments to election sign regulations

On Wednesday, December 8, 2021, City Council enacted amending by-laws to the City’s Signs on City Roads and Temporary Signs on Private Property by-laws. The amending by-laws came into effect on Saturday, January 1, 2022, and apply to all municipal, provincial, and federal elections and by-elections occurring after this date.

On Wednesday, October 13, 2021, City Council considered the report titled “Election Signs By-laws Review” and approved the following amendments to the City’s signs by-laws:

1. Using the same definition for “election sign” in both by-laws.
2. Formalizing that, in accordance with legislation, the external legal opinion and Council motions, election signs are permitted at the drop of the Writ for federal and provincial elections.
3. Aligning the timeframes that permit election signs to be placed on private and public property in municipal elections to 45 days prior to Voting Day in a municipal election.
4. Extending the timeframe to remove signs to 72 hours after Voting Day in any election.
5. Removing the requirements of Section 6.(2) of the Temporary Signs on Private Property By-law for election signs and aligning the placement requirements for election signs in both by-laws.

• Nomination Paper - Form 1
• Endorsement of Nomination - Form 2
• Appointment of Voting Proxy - Form 3
• Financial Statement - Auditor's Report - Candidate - Form 4
• Financial Statement - Subsequent Expenses - Form 5
• Notice of Extension of Campaign Period - Form 6
• Notice of Registration - Third Party - Form 7
• Financial Statement - Auditor's Report - Third Party - Form 8
• Declaration of Identity - Form 9