TORONTO, September 2, 2026 – Toronto voters who are unable to go to a polling place during the municipal election period can now apply to vote by mail.
The City of Toronto opened applications for 2026 municipal election mail-in voting on September 1. The deadline to apply is 4:30 p.m. on September 24. Toronto Elections will begin mailing voting packages on September 14.
Before applying, voters can use MyVote to check their name, address and voter registration status. This is especially important for residents who became Canadian citizens this year, recently moved, or have not voted in a Toronto municipal election before. If their information has changed, they can update it at the same time.
Voting eligibility in municipal elections is not the same as immigration status, which may be more familiar to some newcomers. Under Toronto’s current rules, voters must be at least 18 years old, be Canadian citizens, and meet Toronto residency or property-related eligibility requirements. Permanent residents, as well as people holding work permits or study permits, are currently not eligible to vote in Toronto municipal elections.
Residents who want their information included on the final voters’ list can update it online before 7 p.m. on October 11. Even if someone discovers after that date that they are not registered, they can still vote if they meet the eligibility requirements. They will need to bring accepted identification and register in person during advance voting or on election day, October 26.
Residents choosing mail-in voting should also pay attention to another date: completed voting packages must be received by Toronto Elections by noon on October 14.
This deadline is based on when the package is received, not the postmark date. Ballots can be returned by Canada Post or dropped into designated City ballot boxes.
Residents who applied for mail-in voting but have not yet returned their ballot can still choose to vote in person if they change their mind. However, once a completed mail-in ballot has been received, the voter cannot vote again.（LJI by Yuanyuan）
