With the municipal election just 18 days away it’s time to start thinking about who you plan to vote for on Oct. 26. That is, of course, if you make the effort to actually go to your assigned polling location and cast your ballot.

It’s a sad statement of reality that a significant portion of eligible voters simply don’t bother to do so, at least not in municipal elections.

The voter turnout in the last municipal election held in 2022 was just 43.79 per cent, and that was for a contested mayoralty race. In 2018, the voter turnout was just 42.55 per cent and in 2014 it was 39.92 per cent, so I guess you could say we are moving in the right direction.

By comparison, 76.9 per cent of eligible voters in Orléans cast a ballot in the 2025 federal election, however, only 48 per cent of eligible voters did so in the 2025 provincial election.

The crazy thing is that municipal elections are arguable more important than either their federal or provincial counterparts. The municipal level of government has the greatest impact on our lives. City councillors make decisions regarding public transit, garbage collection, the condition of our streets, the property tax bill and user fees on everything from taking the bus to work, to the cost of a library card.

It’s important that you not only vote, but that you make an educated decision on who you vote for.

And while some city councillors and even the mayor may support one political party or another in their private lives, there are no party allegiances at City Hall and that’s because there are no parties at City Hall.

Municipal councillors are elected independently and make decisions independently based on what’s in the best interests of their residents living in their respective wards, or the city in general.

There are 14 people running for the position of mayor including the current incumbent Mark Sutcliffe. Seven people are running for the city councillor’s job in Orléans East-Cumberland including the incumbent Matt Luloff. Three candidates are running in Orléans West-Innes including incumbent Laura Dudas, and two people are running in Orléans South-Navan including incumbent Catherine Kitts.

If you are eligible to vote, you should have received your voting card in the mail by now which tells you what ward you’re in and where you’re supposed to vote based on your address.

Once you have the when and where to vote out of the way, the next step is to decide who you’re going to vote. A list of all the candidates, including links to their websites can be found at ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/elections.

Take time to do your due diligence, pick a candidate you think reflects your own interests and vote for them. Even if you support one of the incumbents and you think they will win regardless if you vote for them or not, still go and vote and show your support at the ballot box.