Results are continuing to pour in as Waterloo Region reflects on its turnout for advance voting ahead of the upcoming municipal election, with parts of the region seeing quite the increase in turnout in what’s already been a record showing compared with previous years.
The steepest climb in the region comes from the City of Cambridge, which said it collected as many as 3,273 ballots through advance polling stations, marking a 161 per cent increase in voters compared to what was seen in the last municipal election in 2022.
That’s on top of another roughly 3,000 ballots cast online.
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The City of Kitchener has also said it saw heightened turnout during its advance voting days, collecting ballots from 8,208 residents in what was a 47 per cent increase from numbers in 2022.
The city stated that part of the increase was directly credited to accessibility efforts that were established ahead of the election, including drive-thru polling stations, alongside an extra day of advance voting.
“Our goal is to make voting as accessible and convenient as possible,” said Amanda Fusco, City Clerk and Director of Legislative Services with the City of Kitchener.
“The community’s positive response to advance polling tells us residents care about local government and they value the flexible voting options we’ve provided this election.”
While portions of the Tri-Cities recorded sizable increases in advance voter turnout, they aren’t alone, with a few of the townships reporting a similar substantial climb.
In Woolwich Township, advance voting during the initial three days jumped by around 89 per cent, increasing from 947 in 2022 to as many as 1,791 here in 2026.
Township Clerk Jeff Smith said he was “very pleased with the participation” seen during the early round of advance voting and, similarly to Kitchener, stated that much of the success comes down to the added focus on accessibility and convenience in how residents cast their ballots.
“The feedback we have received so far suggests voters appreciate having those choices,” Smith stated.
“I also want to thank election workers who made advance voting a welcoming and easy experience this past weekend.”
Wilmot Township, meanwhile, saw a total of 1,580 ballots cast during advance voting efforts as of Oct. 20, marking an increase of 8.7 per cent over the same timeframe during the last election.
The record turnout seen throughout Waterloo Region shows a jump in community engagement and involvement, with the focus now shifting to the big day around the corner.
“While advance voting numbers provide an early indication of participation, residents who have not yet voted are encouraged to make a plan to cast their ballot on Election Day,” said the City of Kitchener in a release.
“Whether this is your first municipal election or you’ve voted for years, every ballot helps shape the future of our community.”
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