You can vote in London's election if you are a Canadian citizen, you are 18 or older on election day (October 26, 2026), and you have a connection to London. Under Ontario's Municipal Elections Act, that connection can come three ways: you live here, you own or rent property here even though you live somewhere else, or your spouse owns or rents property here.
The non-resident case, plainly: if you own a cottage, rental property, or business property in London but live in another city, you can vote in London's election on top of voting where you live. You (or your spouse) must personally own or rent the property — owning through a corporation alone doesn't qualify you.
Permanent residents and other non-citizens aren't eligible, even if they live and pay taxes in London.
Ontario changed how this works: the old VoterLookup.ca tool is gone, and Elections Ontario now maintains the voters' list. Checking takes a couple of minutes and saves time at the voting location.
Students, renters, and anyone who has moved recently are the most likely to be missing from the list or stuck at an old address — check even if you've voted in London before.
Not on the list at all? You can still be added, including at your voting location on election day itself. Just bring ID that proves your name and address.
Election day is Monday, October 26, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. If that day doesn't work, there are eight advance voting days in early October with the same hours.
Advance voting locations weren't published as of this writing — the city typically posts them a few weeks before advance voting starts. Check https://london.ca/government/council-civic-administration/elections closer to October.
Your specific voting location will be confirmed closer to the election. Watch https://london.ca/government/council-civic-administration/elections, and always confirm dates and locations there before heading out — some 2026 details are still being finalized.
Bring one document that shows your current name and address. Photo ID is not required — a utility bill with your name and address is enough on its own. A Canadian passport does not count, because the address inside it is self-reported.
If your ID shows an old address, update it at RegisterToVoteON.ca beforehand, or bring a second, current document (like a recent utility bill or bank statement) that shows your new address. No acceptable document at all? If you're already on the voters' list, you can sign a Declaration of Identity at the voting location instead.
This is the most commonly misunderstood rule in Ontario municipal voting. In the province's own words: "If you are a student and consider your 'home' to be the place where you live when you are not attending school (that is, you plan on returning there), then you are eligible to vote in both your 'home' municipality and in the municipality where you live while attending school."
In plain terms: if you're a Fanshawe or Western student from another city who still considers that other city home, you can vote in London's election AND in your home municipality's election. You don't have to pick one.
This applies whether you rent, live in residence, or live with roommates in London. If you need proof of your London address, a campus residence document from your school counts as acceptable ID.
You must be a Canadian citizen to vote — if you've recently become one, you're eligible as soon as you meet the age and residency rules above.
How the ward system works, briefly: London is divided into 14 geographic wards, and each elects one councillor to sit alongside a citywide mayor. So you cast three votes: one for mayor (citywide), one for your ward's councillor, and one for a school board trustee for whichever board is tied to your address. Several ward boundaries changed for 2026, so even past London voters should double-check which ward they're in now.
At the voting location it typically takes a few minutes. Staff verify your identity against the list and hand you your ballot(s); you mark them in a private voting screen, then feed them into a tabulator. You're allowed to bring notes — a list of names or anything else to help you remember your choices. There's no rule against it.
If you want help understanding the process, London's Elections Office can walk you through it: elections@london.ca or 519-661-4535. Elections Ontario also publishes voter-registration guidance in multiple languages.