2026 Municipal Election

First, make sure you’re registered for the 2026 Municipal Election and that all of your information is up to date.

Residence

Your residence is the place you adopt as your home and to which you intend to return when you are absent. For the election, you may only have one residence.

Students

Students living temporarily outside of Yellowknife to advance their education, and who meet all of the eligibility requirements, maintain their status as an eligible voter. When registering to vote, ensure that your property address is your Yellowknife street address, and your mailing address is the address you use to receive mail while living temporarily outside of Yellowknife.

2026 Election Dates
Nominations Open	September 8th
Nominations Close	September 21st at 3:00 p.m.
Last day for Candidate to withdraw	September 23rd at 3:00 p.m.
Last day to question eligibility of Candidate	September 24th at 3:00 p.m.
Last day to apply to the Returning Officer for a proxy voting form	October 14th at 3:00 p.m.
*Election Day	October 19th from 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Deadline for all candidate signage to be removed from City-owned property	October 26th
New Mayor and Council term begins (Swearing-in Ceremony)	November 2nd

Voting Stations

Voting Stations will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on October 19, 2026, at the following locations:

Alternative Ways to Vote

Any person eligible to vote may also vote at the Office of the Returning Officer at Elections NWT, 3rd Floor, YK Centre East, 4915 – 48 Street from October 5 to 16, 2026, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding statutory holidays.

If you are not on the Voters List on Election Day, you will still be able to vote.

Pursuant to the Local Authorities Elections Act, a person who presents themselves at a voting station is entitled to vote at the election, if that person is eligible to vote and the person makes a declaration of eligibility stating that:

I am a Canadian citizen;
I am 18 years of age;
I have, for at least 12 consecutive months immediately preceding election day, been a resident of Yellowknife, or an area that has, during the 12 months preceding Election Day, become a part of Yellowknife as a result of a variance of the boundaries of the electoral district;
I have not already voted at the election;
I have not voted by proxy;
I have not received any benefit or consideration for voting at this election.

Once you sign the Declaration of Eligibility, you will receive your ballot.

If you know that you will be unable to vote by mail-in ballot or in person on Election Day, you may vote in the Office of the Returning Officer or obtain an application authorizing another voter to vote on your behalf as a proxy voter.

The proxy voter must meet all voter requirements.
You must apply to the Returning Officer for a proxy form.
You will be required to show the Returning Officer your photo identification, such as a Driver's Licence.

A person cannot:

appoint more than one proxy voter; or
act as a proxy voter for more than three (3) other persons;
The deadline to apply for a proxy form is 3:00 p.m. on October 14, 2026.

If you are already out of town, you will need to send the following documents to the Returning Officer at ReturningOfficer@yellowknife.ca or fax to 867-920-9100.

A signed letter requesting a Proxy Application;
A copy of your Driver's Licence;
The first and last name of your proxy voter.

Note: Both you and your proxy voter will be required to sign the application form before the Returning Officer can finalize your request.

Campaign Rules

Any Election Sign placed in an Election Sign Zone shall be placed above-ground and shall not
penetrate the ground it is placed on.
All campaign signs and any supports or weights used to secure the signs shall be taken down within seven (7) days following the election. Any signs remaining after October 26, 2026 on City land may be removed by the City at the cost of the respective Candidate.
A candidate or one authorized agent of the candidate, but not both, may be present at a Voting Station during the time for voting. Agents must provide written authorization from the candidate to the Election Staff indicating that they are appointed as an agent to act on behalf of the candidate.
There are currently no regulations regarding campaign contributions, expenses or disclosure requirements.

Residence

Students

Voting Stations

Alternative Ways to Vote

Voting at the Office of the Returning Officer

Voting If You Are Not on the Voters List

Proxy Voting

Campaign Rules