Chatham-Kent residents head to the polls today, October 26, in the 2026 municipal election, the first held under a new ward map that shrinks council from 18 seats to 15.
Polls are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Election Day voting is in person only. Electors must vote at their designated location, which is listed on their Voter Information Notice. They can also find it using the Where Do I Vote tool at ckelection.ca.
Unofficial results will be posted on the municipality’s results dashboard after voting closes at 8 p.m.
The municipality is moving from six wards to eight, saying the new boundaries better reflect its communities. Council will now have 14 councillors and one mayor, down from 18 seats.
Ward 1, South West Kent, covers Tilbury, Wheatley and surrounding areas and elects two councillors. Ward 2, South East Kent, covers Blenheim, Ridgetown and surrounding areas and also elects two. Ward 3, North East Kent, takes in Bothwell, Thamesville and surrounding areas and elects one councillor. Ward 4, North West Kent, covers Dresden, Mitchell’s Bay and surrounding areas and elects one.
Ward 5 covers Wallaceburg and surrounding areas and elects two councillors. In Chatham, Ward 6 is the northwest, west of St. Clair Street and north of the Thames River. Ward 7 is the northeast, east of St. Clair Street and north of Park Avenue. Ward 8 is south of Park Avenue and along the Thames River corridor. Each of the three Chatham wards elects two councillors.
To vote, a person must be a Canadian citizen, at least 18 years old and not prohibited from voting under the Municipal Elections Act or any other law. They must also live in the municipality, own or rent land there, or be the spouse of someone who does.
Electors who need to check whether they are on the Voters’ List, or who need to add or remove a name, update their information or request the removal of a deceased elector, can submit an Application to Amend the Voters’ List. Applications are accepted at any Chatham-Kent municipal centre during regular business hours until 4:30 p.m. today, or at their voting location on Election Day.
More information is available at ckelection.ca.
Check out our election coverage leading up to today, here.
Watch for more election coverage all day on Sydenham Current.
