Guelph Municipal Election 2026: Poll Hours and Voting Day
Written by Ethan Crawford • Published October 26, 2026 • Last verified October 26, 2026
What you need to know:
Election day is today, Monday, October 26, 2026; voting places across Guelph are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
You can vote at any designated voting location in your home ward, or at Guelph City Hall (1 Carden Street) regardless of ward.
Advance voting ran from October 10 to 18, 2026, and is now completed; today is the final day to vote.
A Voter Information Card is not required; bring ID showing your name and qualifying Guelph residential address.
All voting locations provide level, accessible access and assistive voting tools pursuant to s. 45 of the Municipal Elections Act.
Guelph voters head to the polls today, Monday, October 26, 2026, for the Ontario municipal election. Whether you are voting before work, during lunch, or in the evening, here is the essential information on poll hours, voting locations, identification requirements, and how ballots work across Guelph.
Poll Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Under section 46(1) of Ontario's Municipal Elections Act, 1996, voting places across the province are open on election day from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. In Guelph, every regular ward polling station and City Hall operate strictly under these hours. As long as you are in line at your voting location by 8:00 p.m., you will be permitted to vote. Lines often build during the evening rush after 5:00 p.m., so voting earlier in the day is recommended if your schedule allows.
Where to Vote: Any Location in Your Ward, or City Hall Guelph does not restrict voters to a single assigned voting place. Under the city's election model, registered voters may cast a ballot at any designated voting location within their home ward on election day. In addition, City Hall at 1 Carden Street serves as a central voting place open to electors from all six wards across the city. If you are unsure which ward you live in, the City of Guelph's municipal election portal provides an address lookup tool.
Advance Voting Concluded Advance voting for the 2026 election ran from Saturday, October 10 through Sunday, October 18, 2026. With advance polls now closed, Monday, October 26 is the final opportunity for eligible Guelph residents to cast their ballot.
What You Need to Vote Voter Information Cards were mailed to registered electors in advance of voting day. Bringing your card speeds up check-in at the polling desk, but you do not need a Voter Information Card to cast a ballot. You only need to present identification that confirms your name and qualifying Guelph residential address.
Ontario accepts a wide variety of documents as valid proof of identity and residence, including an Ontario driver's licence, Ontario Photo Card, utility bill, lease agreement, property tax assessment, or bank statement. Photo identification is not mandatory as long as the document clearly displays your name and qualifying Guelph address. If your name does not appear on the voters list when you arrive, election staff can add you to the list directly at the polling location once your address and eligibility are confirmed.
What Sits on Your Ballot Guelph electors vote for three separate offices: the Mayor (elected city-wide), two City Councillors representing your home ward, and School Board Trustees for your designated school board (Upper Grand District School Board, Wellington Catholic District School Board, Conseil scolaire Viamonde, or Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir).
Accessibility at Voting Places In accordance with section 45 of the Municipal Elections Act, all voting locations in Guelph are fully accessible, featuring barrier-free entrances and accessible parking. Voting places are equipped with assistive voting technologies, including audio ballots, tactile ballot templates, and magnification devices, and election officials are trained to assist electors who require assistance.
Confirm Your Polling Station To locate your ward's voting places or check candidate rosters, visit the City of Guelph municipal elections website at guelph.ca/city-government/mayor-and-council/municipal-elections.
Sources
- City of Guelph: Municipal Election 2026
- City of Guelph: Voting Day & Polling Locations
- Ontario e-Laws: Municipal Elections Act, 1996, s. 46(1)
Related Reading
- Guelph Mayoral Candidates: Vote Compass Responses (2026 Municipal Election)
- Halloween in Guelph 2026: Parties, Markets, Haunted Walks and Family Events
Spot a mistake? Suggest a correction; we fix errors in the open.