To view a list of all uncertified candidates, visit our Uncertified Candidates page.
Voter Information
Register to Vote
Elections Ontario is now responsible for maintaining the Voters List for municipal elections.
The Voters’ List is a list of individuals who are eligible to vote in provincial and local municipal elections in Ontario. Confirm, update, or add your information if you:
- have changed your name or address
- own or rent a new property
- no longer own or rent a property
- want to remove your information
- removing yourself from the Register
- removing a deceased person from the Register
- adding yourself to the list of Future Voters (if you’re under 18 years of age)
Deadline: August 12, 2026
Voter FAQ
Who are the uncertified candidates?
View the Town of Essex Ward Map to determine which ward you reside in and which voting location you need to vote at!
View Ward MapTo vote in a municipal election, you must:
- Be a Canadian citizen and at least 18 years old.
- Be qualified to vote in the municipality by:
- living in the municipality, or
- owning or renting property in the municipality, or
- being the spouse of somebody who owns or rents property in the municipality.
- Not be prohibited from voting according to Section 17 of the Municipal Elections Act (MEA).
Note: property must be personally owner or rented to vote in that municipality. Properties owned by a business or trust do not qualify.
University and College Students:
- Section 2 (2.1) of the MEA allows post-secondary students to vote in both the municipal election where they are attending school and the municipal election in their "home" municipality, provided they are residing in another municipality to attend a post-secondary institution and intend to return to their "home" municipality at the conclusion of their studies.
Registered voters will receive a Voter Notification Card in the mail in September.
Identification is required when you vote. You will need to show ID which contains your name and address. You may have to show two pieces of ID to accomplish this. See the Acceptable Voter Identification section for more info.
Where can I read more about being a voter?
For more detailed information about the voting process and the 2026 municipal elections, check out the 2026 Voter's Guide.
Acceptable Voter Identification
Have Your ID Ready to Vote
Option 1: Show one piece of ID. Driver’s Licence or any other Government-Issued Photo ID that shows both
your name and current address.
Option 2: Show two pieces of ID. Both must show your name, and at least one must have your current address. See below for accepted documents.
Option 3: If you do not have ID. You can still vote if your name already appears on the Voters’ List. The Deputy Returning Officer will require you to take an Oath and Declaration (Form 9) before you are able to vote.
Ontario Driver’s Licence
Ontario Photo Card
Ontario Health Card
Ontario vehicle permit (vehicle portion)
Court-issued documents
Income tax assessment notice
Child Tax Benefit Statement
Employment Insurance statement (T4E)
Old Age Security (T4A OAS)
Canada Pension Plan documents (T4A P, Statement of Contributions)
Ontario Works / ODSP statements
WSIB Statement of Benefits (T5007)
Band Council document
Bank account or credit card statement
Cancelled cheque
Loan or financial agreement
RRSP / RRIF / RHOSP / T5 statements
Mortgage statement
Lease or rental agreement
Utility bills (hydro, water, gas, etc)
Property tax assessment
Pay stub or cheque stub
T4 statement from employer
Post-secondary transcript or report card
Campus residence document
Insurance, Healthcare, and Other Organizations
Insurance policy or statement
CNIB card or card from a registered charity
Hospital card or record
Advance Voting Dates
| Date | Location |
|
Saturday, October 3, 2026 |
Advance Voting Day (8:00 AM to 4:00 PM) Essex Centre Sports Complex, Shaheen Community Room |
|
Wednesday, October 7, 2026 |
Advance Voting Day (12:00 PM to 8:00 PM) McGregor Community Centre |
|
Saturday, October 10, 2026 |
Advance Voting Day (8:00 AM to 4:00 PM) Harrow and Colchester South Community Centre |
|
Wednesday, October 14, 2026 |
Advance Voting Day (12:00 PM to 8:00 PM) Colchester Community Room |
Election Voting Day Information
October 26, 2026 | 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM
All voters will need to go to their assigned poll location listed on their voter notification card, to be mailed in September.
| Ward | Location |
|
Essex Centre Ward 1 |
Essex Centre Sports Complex
|
| McGregor Ward 2 |
McGregor Community Centre
|
|
Colchester Ward 3 |
Camoes Portuguese Club of Harrow
|
|
Harrow Ward 4 |
Harrow and Colchester South Community Centre
|
Proxy Voting at the Town of Essex
Applications for Proxy Voting can be requested by:
Phone: 519-776-7336 ext 1146
Email: elections@essex.ca
In Person: Town Hall, 33 Talbot St S, Essex, ON
- Contact the Clerk’s office to request a Proxy Application Form 3 to be marked and issued by the Clerk’s Office and mailed/emailed; or
- Request a Proxy Application Form to be picked up at the Clerk’s Office from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, or 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the day of an Advance Vote.
Instructions on how to complete the Appointment for Voting Proxy Form are provided here: Appointment for Voting Proxy Instructions 2026
Completed Application Forms must be filed in person at Town Hall, 33 Talbot St S, Essex between August 24 at 9:00 am to October 23 at 4:30 pm. For best service, please call ahead for an appointment.
Please note there will be no certification of Proxy Forms at a Voting Location or on Election Day October 26, 2026.
For more information: Town of Essex Proxy Procedures Policy with Schedules
Questions?
For questions concerning the upcoming 2026 municipal election, send an email or give us a call at 519-776-7336 ext.1146