Register to Vote
A city-wide election for Markham's City Council and local school boards will be held from October 16 to 26, 2026.
You can vote if you are:
- At least 18 years old (or will be by final voting day);
- A Canadian citizen;
- A Markham resident, landowner or tenant (or the spouse of one); and,
- Registered to vote.
Check, update or add your information on Markham's municipal voters' list. It's quick and easy!
Frequently asked questions
- What is the voters' list?
The voters' list is the list of persons who are registered to vote in Markham's municipal and school board elections.
Everyone who votes must be registered on the voters' list before being issued a ballot. Election officials use the voters' list to enforce the rule of one ballot per voter, which is necessary for free and fair elections.
During non-election periods, the voters' list is maintained by Elections Ontario and is continuously updated using information from provincial and federal elections as well as Ontario driver's licences, photo cards, health cards, and property ownership records.
- Is ID needed to register?
Anyone can check their information on Markham's voters' list online without showing ID. If you are adding or updating your information on the voters' list, ID is required.
- What happens once I register?
Everyone who is registered to vote for an upcoming municipal or school board election will be sent a voter information letter (VIL) containing important information about how they can vote.
Most people usually receive a VIL in the mail a few days before the start of early voting in the election.
- I didn't get a voter information letter in the mail. What do I do?
If you are eligible to vote in an upcoming municipal or school board election but haven't received a voter information letter (VIL) by the start of early voting days, you may not be registered at your current address or at all.
To vote in a municipal or school board election, you need to be all of the following:
- At least 18 years old (by final voting day);
- A Canadian citizen;
- A Markham resident, landowner or tenant (or the spouse of one); and,
- Registered to vote.
There are many ways to register, including:
- Online at ElectionsMarkham.ca/Register
- At Elections Markham Headquarters (Markham Civic Centre, Legislative Services counter)
- At any voting place during voting days
Voters registering online or in person will be asked to show acceptable ID.
- I am away from home until after the election with no access to my incoming postal mail. Can I still vote?
Yes. First, make sure you are registered to vote using our online tool. If you are already registered, update your information with your email address and acceptable ID. Contact us and we will send you a digital copy of your voter information letter (VIL) to vote online.
If you register or update your information with us online after the start of early voting days (October 16), we will automatically send you a digital VIL.
- I received a voter information letter for someone who doesn't live at my address anymore. How do I remove them from the voters' list?
Put the letter back in its envelope with the mailing addresses showing in the windows, write ‘Return to sender’ on the front of the envelope and ‘Moved’ (or 'Not at this address') on the back, and mail it back to Elections Markham.
Or, take it to any voting place during voting days and give it to the voting place manager.
We will notify Elections Ontario so that they can update this person's address for future provincial and municipal elections.
- I received a voter information letter for someone who passed away. How do I remove them from the voters' list?
The best way to remove someone who has passed away from the voters' list is through Elections Ontario's online Register to Vote tool. This will ensure that they are removed from the voters' list for future provincial and municipal elections.
Alternatively, you can request this change in person at Elections Markham Headquarters (Markham Civic Centre, Legislative Services counter).
You will be asked to show a copy of the death certificate or other written proof of death.