How to Vote

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs provides a very informative 2022 Voters' Guide for Ontario Municipal and School Board Elections. It provides general information about Municipal Elections in Ontario. Information specific to Woodstock is found below.

Who Can Vote?

You can vote in the City of Woodstock municipal election if you are:

• a Canadian citizen; and
• at least 18 years old; and
• a resident in the City of Woodstock; or
• a non-resident of Woodstock, but you or your spouse own or rent property in the City; and
• not prohibited from voting under any law

You may only vote once regardless of how many properties you own or rent within the City.

If you are unavailable or unable or to cast your ballot you may want to appoint a voting proxy.

Please note that some rural addresses in Oxford County include Woodstock in the address but the property is not located in the City of Woodstock. For example, a property at R.R. #8 Woodstock, ON N4S 7W3 is located in the Township of Norwich and this resident would not be eligible to vote in Woodstock. A good rule of thumb is to consider where the property taxes are paid.

Who cannot vote?

You are prohibited from voting on voting day if you are:

• serving a sentence of imprisonment in a penal or correctional institution
• a corporation
• acting as executor or trustee or in another representative capacity, except as a voting proxy
• convicted of a corrupt practice described in section 90(3) of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996

This means that if you own or rent property in the City of Woodstock under a business name (a corporation), you are not eligible to vote in the Woodstock municipal election. The property must be owned or rented under your name or your spouse's name. 

Identification

You do not need a Voter Information Card to vote. But, acceptable identification (ID) is needed. Remember to bring one piece of ID showing your name and qualifying Woodstock address. Photo ID is not required. Your Voter Information Card cannot be used as a piece of ID.

• If you do not have acceptable ID, but your name is on the voters’ list you will be required to sign a Declaration of Identity to receive a ballot.
• If you do not have acceptable ID, and are not on the voters’ list, you will be asked to return with your ID in order to receive a ballot.

Many documents can be used to show a person’s name and address. Please review the list of acceptable documents for voter identification to ensure your ID will be accepted.

Where do I vote?

Please consult our page on Voting Locations for information about our Election Day Voting Locations, Roving Polls and Advance Polls. 

The Voters' List

In order to vote you must be on the Voters' List. You can use our self-serve portal to confirm that you are listed on Woodstock's Voters' List.

Applications for revisions to the voters’ list can be made either online or by completing and filing a revisions form at the City Clerk's Office (Main Floor City Hall, 500 Dundas Street) during the period of September 1, 2022 to October 24, 2022 during the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday (excluding statutory holidays). Revisions will also be accepted at any polling location on Advance Poll days and on Election Day. Electors are encouraged to ensure that their name and relevant information is correctly entered on the voters’ list.