Here is what Oshawa residents need before online ballots open the day after Thanksgiving, and what candidates still owe once the votes are counted.
The Oshawa municipal election moves into its decisive phase next week. Residents of the Durham Region city can start casting internet ballots for council and school board seats at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, October 13, and will have until 8 p.m. on Voting Day, Monday, October 26.
Online voting opens the morning after the Thanksgiving holiday, when City Hall services are adjusted. With the voting window only days away, the City of Oshawa is urging residents to make sure their mailing address is correct. That address is where each voter’s personal login details will be sent.
Thirteen Days of Online Ballots, Closing at 8 p.m. on October 26
Under the city’s published timetable, voting for the 2026 Oshawa Municipal and School Board Elections will take place online. Ballots can be cast at any time between the October 13 opening and the October 26 deadline. That gives voters close to two weeks instead of a single day at a polling station.
The vote fills both municipal offices and school board trustee positions at the same time. The city’s election pages list registered candidates and point residents to a ward-finder tool. The number of candidates in each race is not stated in the city’s key-dates information.
General context: Ontario municipalities and school boards hold their elections together every four years under the province’s Municipal Elections Act. Voting Day falls on the fourth Monday in October, which this year is October 26.
Why the Voter Information Letter Is the Key to Voting in the Oshawa Municipal Election
Because ballots are cast online, each eligible elector needs credentials before they can vote. The city is mailing every voter a Voter Information Letter. It explains how to reach the internet ballot and includes the voter’s personal voting P.I.N.
The letter goes to the mailing address on the voters’ list, so the city is asking residents to check their entry through the Voters List section of its website. A wrong address could mean the letter, and the P.I.N. inside it, never reaches the voter.
Residents have had several chances this year to fix their details:
- August 12: The last day to confirm, update, or add information for the municipal election through Register to Vote, an online service run by Elections Ontario.
- From September 1: Voters could update their voters’ list information directly through the city’s own online portal.
For many households, the main task before October 13 is simple: check the mailbox and keep the letter somewhere safe until it is time to vote.
Advance Sites for Voters Who Want Help Going Online
Internet voting does not mean residents are left on their own. During two advance voting periods, October 13 to 17 and October 19 to 23, the city will run locations where staff can help electors vote online. Staff can also issue internet voting credentials when needed.
These sites matter most for voters whose letter did not arrive, who do not have reliable internet access, or who would rather have someone guide them through the process. The specific addresses and hours of the advance locations are not listed in the key-dates information. Residents should check the city’s election pages for those details.
Questions can also go to the city’s Legislative Services office at Oshawa City Hall, 50 Centre St. S., at 905-436-3311 or toll-free at 1-800-667-4292.
From May Nominations to a November Swearing-In: The 2026 Calendar
The vote is the most visible part of a timeline that began in the spring and will run well into 2027 for candidates. The table below sets out the dates the city has published.
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| May 1 | Candidate nominations and third-party advertiser registration open |
| May 1 to December 31 | Campaign period (starts when each candidate files nomination papers) |
| August 12 | Deadline to update elector information via Elections Ontario’s Register to Vote |
| August 21 | Nomination Day: nominations accepted 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. |
| September 1 | City’s online voters’ list portal becomes available |
| September 30 | Final Certificate of Maximum Permitted Expenses issued to candidates |
| October 13 to 26 | Internet voting, 10 a.m. October 13 to 8 p.m. October 26 |
| October 13 to 17 and October 19 to 23 | Advance voting periods with in-person help |
| October 23 | Third-party advertisers must file notice of registration by 4:30 p.m. |
| October 26 | Voting Day |
| November 15 | New council term begins |
| December 31, 4:30 p.m. | Deadline to file a campaign extension to June 30, 2027 |
| March 26, 2027, 2 p.m. | Financial statements due |
| September 24, 2027 | Supplementary financial statements due |
Spending Caps and Paperwork That Outlast the Campaign
Every Oshawa candidate runs under a legal spending limit. When candidates filed their nomination papers, they received a Preliminary Certificate of Maximum Permitted Expenses. On September 30, the City Clerk issued each of them a Final Certificate.
Candidates may not spend more than the higher of the two figures. The dollar limits for individual races are not published in the key-dates information.
The financial side of the race continues well past Voting Day. Each candidate’s campaign period officially runs until December 31, 2026. Campaigns that need more time, for example to pay off a deficit, can extend to June 30, 2027, if the candidate files for an extension by 4:30 p.m. on December 31.
All nominated candidates must file financial statements by 2 p.m. on March 26, 2027. The nomination filing fee is refunded only after that statement is filed. Candidates who miss the deadline get a 30-day grace period, but must pay a $500 late filing fee set by the Municipal Elections Act.
A second deadline follows on September 24, 2027, for supplementary statements. These cover the six months after the election year, or the period until any deficit is cleared, whichever is shorter. The same 30-day grace period and $500 late fee apply.
Election finance rules, including those on contributions, fundraising, expenses, and reporting, are set out in the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing’s 2026 Candidates’ Guide for Ontario Municipal and School Board Elections. The prescribed Financial Statement, known as Form 4, is issued by the same ministry.
Third-Party Advertisers Face an October 23 Cutoff
Not all election messaging comes from candidates. Individuals, corporations, or unions that want to advertise for or against candidates or ballot questions must register as third-party advertisers. Registration opened on May 1, alongside nominations.
The final deadline is 4:30 p.m. on Friday, October 23, three days before Voting Day. The city keeps a public list of registered third-party advertisers, which lets residents see who is paying for election messaging beyond the candidates’ own campaigns.
Oshawa’s Vote in a Busy Season for Canadian Elections
Oshawa’s online vote comes during a crowded stretch of Canadian politics. Earlier this month, Quebec voters handed power to the Parti Québécois in a provincial election that left the CAQ without a single seat. That result has since revived debate over electoral reform and how votes translate into seats.
Municipal races rarely draw that kind of attention, yet city councils control many of the services residents use every day. These include roads, snow clearing, parks, recreation, local planning, and property taxes. School board trustees, elected on the same ballot, oversee local public education.
Oshawa’s choice of internet voting also puts its turnout and voter experience under scrutiny. Residents and observers will be watching how smoothly letters, P.I.N.s, and advance help sites work.
A New Council Takes Office November 15
Once voting closes at 8 p.m. on October 26, results will determine who sits on Oshawa’s next council. The new term begins on November 15, 2026, less than three weeks after Voting Day. Results from the 2022 election, along with that year’s candidate financial statements, remain available in the city’s elections resources library for anyone who wants to compare.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I vote online in the Oshawa municipal election?
Internet voting runs from 10 a.m. on Tuesday, October 13, to 8 p.m. on Monday, October 26.
What do I need in order to vote?
You need the Voter Information Letter mailed by the city. It includes instructions for reaching the internet ballot and your voting P.I.N.
What if my letter does not arrive?
Advance voting locations, open October 13 to 17 and October 19 to 23, can provide internet voting credentials when needed and help with online voting.
When does the newly elected council start?
The new council term begins on November 15, 2026.
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