BURLINGTON — City officials have published the key dates and candidate information for Burlington’s 2026 municipal election, setting the timetable for residents to choose a mayor and councillors who will guide local priorities such as infrastructure, public safety and traffic management.
When and how to vote
The city says in-person voting will take place on Oct. 26, 2026, with expanded options for advance and online voting. According to Burlington’s official information:
- Online voting: Oct. 14 to Oct. 23
- Advanced in-person polls: Oct. 17 and Oct. 20
- Election day (in-person): Oct. 26
| Event | Date(s) |
|---|---|
| Online voting | Oct. 14–23, 2026 |
| Advanced polls (in-person) | Oct. 17 & Oct. 20, 2026 |
| Election day (in-person) | Oct. 26, 2026 |
Candidates and contest themes
Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, first elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022, announced in June that she will seek a third term. Her campaign, as described on the city site, emphasises investing in infrastructure and public safety, addressing traffic and congestion, and ensuring residents’ voices are heard across levels of government.
A number of sitting councillors have also put their names forward. The city’s candidate pages list hopefuls alphabetically and include short biographies; they will be updated as the race develops. Highlights from the initial listing include:
- Lisa Kearns — Ward 2 incumbent and Deputy Mayor of Engagement and Partnership since 2022; platform items noted include value for taxes, housing, climate resilience and support for local business.
- Rory Nisan — Ward 3 incumbent, former foreign service officer with a background in human rights at the United Nations; platform focuses on fiscal responsibility, affordability and quality of life.
- Yugalkeesor Ramdhonee — a newcomer to politics with a hospitality background and a diploma in business administration from the UK.
The city also lists contested races at the ward level. For example, Ward 1 — which encompasses the western edge of Burlington from the waterfront along North Shore Boulevard to the Waterdown border — includes the incumbent Kelvin Galbraith and challengers Cheryl Hurst, James Kerr and Robert Radway.
Deadlines and next steps
"The deadline to submit or withdraw nominations is Aug. 21 at 2 p.m."
That nomination deadline is the next administrative milestone. Candidates must file by the Aug. 21 cutoff to appear on ballots and official candidate lists. The city has said ward-specific candidate pages will follow the same alphabetical format and be updated regularly.
For voters, the schedule and candidate roster mean there are roughly two months to review platforms, attend candidate events and, if needed, register for online voting. With issues such as housing, road congestion and public safety repeatedly cited by candidates, residents will be weighing which combination of municipal priorities — and which individuals — best reflect their neighbourhoods’ needs.
Local groups, community associations and businesses often use the weeks before an election to focus debates and public information sessions on specific topics such as development, transit, and municipal finances. Burlington’s mix of long-serving incumbents and new entrants suggests both continuity and fresh perspectives are likely to feature in the campaign.
City staff invite residents to consult the official Burlington elections webpage for the full list of polling locations, candidate biographies and instructions for online voting. As the nomination period closes and campaign season accelerates, voters will have multiple opportunities to assess how the contenders propose to address the practical concerns that shape daily life in Burlington.
