Online voting in the 2026 Municipal Election in the City of Sarnia opens in exactly one week.
Communications Manager Steve Henschel said this year's process will be very similar to the 2022 election.
"Users should have a voter information card in hand. It would have been mailed out, they would have received it by last week. It has the PIN and all the directions for online voting, which kicks off October 16 at 9 a.m.," he said.
Online votes can be cast at sarnia.simplyvoting.com, and the internet voting period will end at 8 p.m. on Election Day, which is Monday, October 26.
Eligible individuals who have not received a voter information letter can visit sarnia.ca/election2026 to find more information and to register.
"If you don't want to go to the website route, you can come into city hall during business hours before October 16. We have our voter help centre open on the first floor, in committee room two. They can take your ID, add you to the voter's list right then and there," Henschel said.
Prior to October 16, the voter help centre will be open during regular business hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Henschel said for those who would like to vote by internet but need assistance or access to a device, the voter help centre will remain open from October 16 to October 26.
On October 16, the centre will be open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. between October 17 and October 25 (on weekends as well). On Election Day, the centre will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Voting by paper ballot will take place between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. at one of nine designated locations in the city, outlined on the city's website and the back of voter information letters.
Participation in Sarnia's 2022 election was 40.41 per cent.
"During the last election, a total of 16,861 people voted by internet and 5,021 people voted in-person via paper ballot," Henschel said.
There are currently five candidates running for mayor: Incumbent Mayor Mike Bradley, City/County Councillor Bill Dennis, Carrie McEachran, and Scott Molson.
George Stanko told Sarnia News Today he withdrew from the mayoral race, however, his name will still show up on the ballot.
Seventeen people are vying for a city/county council position, and 21 are running for city councillor. Only four city/county councillors and four city councillors will be elected.
A full list of those running can be found on the municipal website.
There are also five Lambton Kent District School Board Trustee candidates and three St. Clair Catholic District School Board Trustee candidates.
Michael Salvatore was acclaimed as the Conseil Scolaire Catholique Providence Trustee candidate, and David Paradis was acclaimed as the Conseil Scolaire Viamonde Trustee candidate.
