Register to Vote

I have property in Markham but don't live there. Can I still vote in Markham's municipal elections?

Yes. Unlike federal and provincial elections -- where you vote once based on where you live -- you are allowed to vote in the municipal elections of every municipality where you live, own or rent property. However, you can only vote once in each municipality.

I have a business located in Markham. Can I vote?

Non-residential property owners and tenants are allowed to vote for Markham's City Council offices, but not for school board trustees. Only people who live, own or rent residential property in Markham can vote for Markham's local school boards.

You (or your spouse) must personally own or rent the property to qualify as a voter. If the property is owned or rented by your business, you can't vote.

I have multiple properties in Markham. Can I vote more than once?

No. You can only vote once in a Markham municipal or school board election, no matter how many properties you own or rent in the city.

You vote based on the ward where you live. If you don't live at any of your Markham properties, you can choose which property to vote from. Make sure you are registered at the correct address by checking the voters' list. 

If you receive more than one voter information letter, you are still only allowed to vote once. You should also notify Elections Markham that you have been registered more than once.

I'm a student temporarily living in Markham for school. Where do I vote?

Students who are temporarily living in Markham but live in another municipality when they are not at school are allowed to vote in both places. The same is true for students who live in another municipality when they are going to school but consider Markham to be their home outside the school year. 

Students who don't have other ID showing their Markham address can use a letter from their school verifying their student residence.

I live in Markham but don't have a permanent address. Can I vote?

Yes. If you don't have a permanent address, the place where you have returned most often to eat or sleep in the past 5 weeks is considered to be your address.

If you don't have ID showing your name and address, you can ask the administrator of the shelter, food bank, or community health care facility that you use most often to provide you with a signed confirmation of identity and residence.

I don't have kids in the public school system. Why am I voting for a school board trustee?

Everyone who lives, owns or rents residential property in Markham automatically supports one of Markham's local school boards and is entitled to vote for the board trustee representing their district.

School board elections take place at the same time as regular municipal elections and are administered together by Elections Markham, which is why their offices appear on the same ballot.

What happens after I register?

Everyone who is registered to vote for an upcoming municipal or school board election will be mailed a voter information letter containing important information about how they can vote. Most people usually receive their voter information letter about a week before voting starts.

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 by the start of 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, land owner or tenant (or the spouse of one)
• Registered to vote

There are lots of 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 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’ 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 a family member who passed away. How do I remove them from the voters’ list?

We are so sorry for your loss.

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 need a copy of the person's death certificate or other written proof of death.