How to Vote

Internet voting begins on Monday, October 19 at 10:00 am, and will be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week until voting closes at 8:00 pm. on Election Day - Monday, October 26, 2026.

Your Voter Information Letter (VIL) will arrive in late September and will provide internet voting instructions, including the voting website address and your individual PIN. Use these to sign into your computer, laptop, tablet or phone to vote online, from anywhere.

If you are unable to vote for any reason you may appoint a proxy, someone to go to a poll and cast a ballot on your behalf. The following rules apply to voting proxies:

• You may appoint only one person to be your voting proxy.
• A person may act as a voting proxy for only one person who is not a family member.
• One person may act as a voting proxy for any or all of their immediate family members, including spouse, sibling, parent, child, grandparent or grandchild.
• A person cannot be appointed as a voting proxy for a non-family member and a family member at the same time.

To appoint a voting proxy, you must fill out two copies of the Appointment for Voting Proxy Form - Form 3
and give both copies to the person that you are appointing as your proxy.

The person you appoint must be eligible to vote in Thunder Bay, and should be someone you trust to mark the ballot in the way you have instructed them to.  

You can appoint a proxy after August 21, 2026 when nominations have been certified the City Clerk.

Your voting proxy must take both copies of Form 3 to the Office of the City Clerk at City Hall, 500 Donald Street East to get them certified. Once the forms have been certified, your voting proxy may cast a vote on your behalf on Voting Day (October 26).

The City of Thunder Bay is committed ensuring that elections are accessible to everyone.  Measures to ensure equal opportunity for all electors and candidates include the following objectives:

• That persons with disabilities are able to independently cast their vote and verify their selection.
• That persons with disabilities have full and equal access to all information on where and when to vote and on eligible candidates.
• That persons with disabilities can fully participate in the municipal election as an elector, candidate, or election official.
• That efforts are made to ensure that electors with disabilities are aware of the accessibility measures available via channels such as the City of Thunder Bay election website, social media and by contacting the municipal elections office.
• That all polling locations and voter help centres are accessible.
• That all election staff are trained in providing accessible customer service and that they recognize that a voter’s needs shall be accommodated.

More information about the City of Thunder Bay's commitment to an accessible election is available in the 2026 Municipal Election Accessibility Plan.