How to vote in Ontario’s provincial election

Like it or not, voters head back to the polls next month in an early Ontario election.

Ontario’s next provincial election was scheduled for June 2026 but Premier Doug Ford said he needed a “clear mandate from the people of Ontario” to spend tens of billions of dollars to deal with impending U.S. tariffs.

Ford officially set the process in motion for Ontario’s 44th general election earlier this week.

Other major Ontario party leaders include NDP leader Marit Stiles, Liberal Bonnie Crombie and Green Party’s Mike Schreiner.

Here’s how people can vote:

When

Election day is Feb. 27 but voters can start to cast their ballots starting Thursday, Jan. 30, Elections Ontario said. Eligible voters can vote by mail, at a local election office, and on election day.

On Thursday, Feb. 27, voters can go to their assigned voting location from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Eastern Time). Visit voterinformationservice.elections.on.ca to find voting locations.

Who can vote

You must be a Canadian citizen, an Ontario resident and 18 years of age or older on election day.

How to register

Voters are encouraged to confirm, update, or add their information to the Register now at RegisterToVoteON.ca so that they will get a voter information card in the mail with information on when, where, and how to vote.

Candidates

Voters can find a complete list of candidates at elections.on.ca after nominations close at 2 p.m. on Feb. 13.

Vote by mail

Residents must submit an application to vote by mail before Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. (Eastern Time). Apply online or download an application at elections.on.ca.

Advance voting

Advance voting will be from Feb. 20 to 22. Visit voterinformationservice.elections.on.ca for specific dates, times and locations.

Other ways to vote

People can request a home or hospital visit if they cannot make it to a voting location or require assistance to vote. The request can be made until 6 p.m. on Feb. 26. From Feb. 17 to 19, election officials will visit participating hospitals with voting kits.

To vote before election day at your local election office, a request must be made by 6 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Feb. 26.

Assistive Voting Technology will be deployed for use at all local election offices from Feb. 20 until polling day.

For more information about the election, including when and where to vote and examples of accepted ID, visit elections.on.ca.