The City of Kingston’s municipal elections are set to take place on Oct. 26, and many students are eligible to vote even if Kingston is not their permanent home.
Voters will elect Kingston’s mayor, district councillors, and school board trustees.
Post-secondary students living away from home may be eligible to vote in two municipalities, according to the Ontario governments website. A special provision allows students who consider another municipality their permanent home, and intend to return there, to vote in both their hometown and Kingston.
“Regardless of if you’re here for a year or five years, your post-secondary education is shaped by the city you live in,” Racheal Reddy, AMS commissioner of external affairs, said in an interview with The Journal.
Reddy said students should recognize that their voices matter in municipal decisions, particularly on issues that directly affect them including housing, transit, local services, and infrastructure.
From checking eligibility to finding a polling location, here’s what Queen’s students need to know about voting in the municipal election.
Check voting eligibility
To be eligible to vote, students must be Canadian citizens, be at least 18 years old, have a valid piece of government ID, and live in the city. Students may also qualify if they, or their spouse, owns or rents property in Kingston.
Students living in residence can vote and find proof of their Kingston address through the Housing and Ancillary services portal.
Students on internships, exchange, or temporary leave who no longer have a Kingston address are not eligible to vote, even if they plan to return to Queen’s. Those who still have a Kingston address while away are eligible.
Register to vote
Students should first use the City’s online voter service tool to check whether they’re already on Kingston’s voter’s list.
The same voting service will be used to register for the elections by filling out an online form, open until Oct. 26 at 5 p.m.
Students can also register in-person at the elections office at Kingston City Hall, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or at their voting location on election day by bringing government-issued identification and proof of their Kingston address.
Proof of Kingston address includes utility bills, post-secondary transcripts, or documents showing campus residence.
In a statement to The Journal, Derek Ochej, deputy city clerk for the City of Kingston, said voter registration remains open after Sept. 15, up until the final day of voting. Those who registered before the 15th were sent a Voter Information Letter by mail, which is necessary to vote online. The letter is not required for in-person voting, but registration is.
Voting options
Online voting opens Oct. 14 at 10 a.m. and remains available until 8 p.m. on Oct. 26.
Students who want to vote early can also cast their ballot in-person on Oct. 16 and 17 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Advance voting locations can be found through the City’s online voter service or in their Voter Information Letter.
Olympic Harbour is the advance voting location for the Portsmouth District, Calvin Park Library is the location for the Williamsville District, and Central Library is the location for the Sydenham District.
For those who want to vote in-person on the day of the election, Portsmouth votes can be cast at the Loyalist Collegiate and Vocational Institute, Williamsville votes can be cast at the Memorial Centre for, and Sydenham votes can be cast at the Winston Churchill Public School.
Get to know the candidates
Students can vote for mayor, their district councillor, and an eligible school board trustee.
In two of the districts commonly home to Queen’s students, the councillor races have already been decided by acclamation. Don Amos was acclaimed in Portsmouth, while Vincent Cianni was acclaimed in Williamsville. Four candidates are running in Sydenham and three are running in King’s Town.
READ MORE: What to know about municipal elections as a Queen’s student
“We want [the students] to vote based on what they prioritize and what they value in terms of governance and policy,” Reddy said. “By being informed and by voting in the election, they’re able to have a voice and have a say in who shapes that post-secondary experience.”
Corrections
An earlier version of this story incorrectly spelled Derek Ochej’s name.
Incorrect information appeared in the September 25 issue of The Queen’s Journal.
The Journal regrets the error
Tags
2026 municipal elections, City Councillor, Kingston Mayor
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