By Sumayya

People living in Ottawa have another chance to vote for a mayor, city councillor, and school board leader today, as the city election continues. The City of Ottawa is holding an Early Voting Day today, with voting places open in 24 areas across the city between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.

This is the fifth of six voting days in Ottawa’s city election, with the very last chance to vote happening on election day on Monday, October 26. More than 27,000 people already voted during the four days of Special Early Voting during the first weekend of October. There are 14 people listed on the ballot trying to become the mayor of Ottawa. Here is what you need to know about the Early Voting Day.

The City of Ottawa says early voting locations will be open in all 24 areas between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. If you do not vote today, your final chance is Monday, October 26. Voters must cast their ballot for mayor, councillor, and school board leader at their matching voting place in their local area. The city says to find your voting place, check your Voter Warning Letter, get in touch with an Ottawa Election Worker, or use the Where Do I Vote? online tool on the website ottawa.ca/vote. The city asks voters who have the Voter Warning Letter to bring it to the voting location, but you do not need it to vote.

Voters will have to show one piece of identity paperwork to get a ballot paper at the voting place. The city says the identity paper must show your name and your correct Ottawa home address. The city says you can show one of the following items as personal information:

• An Ontario driver’s license.
• An Ontario Health Card (the one with a photo).
• An Ontario Photo Card.
• An Ontario car permit (the vehicle part).
• A cancelled personal cheque with your name on it.
• A home loan paper, rental agreement, or lease paper for a property in Ontario.
• An insurance paper or insurance statement.
• A money loan agreement or other money agreement with a bank.
• A document given or signed by a court in Ontario.
• Any other paper from the government of Canada, Ontario, a city in Ontario, or from a government group.
• Any paper from a Band Council in Ontario made under the Canada Indian Act.
• An income tax review note.
• A Child Tax Benefit paper.
• A T4E paper showing Employment Insurance Benefits paid.
• A T4A (OAS) paper showing Old Age Security money.
• A T4A (P) paper showing Canada Pension Plan Benefits.
• A paper showing Canada Pension Plan payments.
• A paper showing direct deposit for Ontario Works.
• A paper showing direct deposit for the Ontario Disability Support Program.
• A T5007 paper showing Workplace Safety and Insurance Board benefits.
• A property tax evaluation paper.
• A credit card statement, bank account paper, or an RRSP, RRIF, RHOSP, or T5 statement.
• A CNIB Card or a card from another official charity group that helps people with disabilities.
• A hospital card or hospital paper.
• A paper showing you live at a school campus, given by the office or workers in charge of student housing at a college or university.
• A paper showing you live at a long-term care home under the Long-Term Care Homes Act of 2007, given by the head manager of the home.
• A bill for electricity, water, gas, telephone, or cable TV, or a bill from a public utility office.
• A cheque paper stub, T4 paper, or pay receipt given by a boss at work.
• A school grade paper or transcript from a college or university.

The city says you do not need a photo identity card to vote in this city election.

The City of Ottawa says voters whose names are missing from the Voters List, or who need to change their personal details, can fix it directly at the voting place. Paper forms to add or change details on the Voters List will be ready at every voting location and are simple to fill out right there. The city says you must show identity paperwork before getting a ballot paper at the voting location, and the ID must show the voter’s name and home address. “If a voter cannot show acceptable proof of identity and address, they can make an official statement before being given a ballot paper,” the city said.

The City of Ottawa says the following people cannot vote in the city election:

• A person serving time in a prison or jail.
• A business corporation.
• A person acting as a property manager, trustee, or in another representative role, unless they are acting as an official voting proxy helper.
• A person found guilty of a dishonest voting action described in section 90(3) of the Municipal Elections Act of 1996.

The City of Ottawa says 27,553 votes were already cast during the four days of Special Early Voting between October 1 and October 4. That is up by 45 percent from the 18,876 ballots that were cast during all four days of Special Early Voting Days back in 2022. In 2022, the city held two Early Voting Days. A total of 26,773 votes were cast during the first Early Voting Day in 2022, while 33,842 votes were cast on the second day.