What are the municipal elections?

Canada’s government is separated by three powers; federal, provincial and municipal. The municipal governments in Ontario are responsible for providing various different services within their local communities such as: economic development, police services, public health, social services, social housing, tax collection etc. See full list.

The purpose of the municipal elections is to provide residents with the opportunity to choose representatives for their communities that will make decisions on behalf of the public they represent.

Why You Should Vote
As our municipal election approaches, it’s important to understand your right to vote as a Citizen. The voting process may seem overwhelming and unfamiliar but there are plenty of resources online and in-person that can help.

Voting is important for many reasons. For example:

• Voting is an opportunity to make your voice heard.
• Voting can create a sense of belonging.
• Voting can be used as a tool to make decisions on changes you’d like to see in various sectors such as education, transportation, housing and more.
• Voting can help make decisions on the overall quality of life you’d like to have.
• Voting impacts you.

How to Vote in Person or By Mail

If you are over the age of 18 and living in Hamilton, you may be eligible to vote.

Eligible voters for the 2022 municipal elections must be a Canadian Citizen and live in, own property, or attend school in Hamilton.

If you are planning to vote, it’s important to verify whether your name is on the voters list. If you are not registered to vote, you can apply through the city clerk or attend your local polling station on election day with a valid piece of ID.

Find your polling station (where to vote)

Acceptable forms of identification: an Ontario driver’s license, an Ontario Health card, an income tax assessment etc. To see which forms of ID qualify, please click here.

If you are registered to vote, you have two options. You can vote in person or by mail.

Once checking into your local polling station, you should be given a ballot. The ballot will contain names of candidates running in your local ward. Follow the instructions on the ballot to cast your vote.

Resources

We hope this blog post helped create a better understanding of the importance of making your voice heard this upcoming election.

Need more help?

Feel free to visit the City of Hamilton’s website to learn more about how to prepare for this year’s election.

If you have any questions, you can visit the City’s website and read their Frequently Asked Questions, translated in 10 different languages.

To contact the election office:

In Person:
City Hall, 1st Floor 71 Main Street West Hamilton, ON L8P 4Y5

By Phone or Email:

Call 905-546-4365 or Email elections@hamilton.ca

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