Manitobans are headed to the polls in municipal elections across most of the province. Emily Burt made it a family affair.
“The kids don’t have school today so I figured I would just bring them and show them the experience of voting. They have 10 years and eight years before they get to do it, so now they know how,” Burt said outside Bison Run School in the Waverley West neighbourhood of southwest Winnipeg.
“I want them to know that it’s important to have a voice, especially in your own city.”
Locations are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for voters to cast ballots for mayors (or reeves, as the head of council is known in many rural municipalities), councillors and school trustees in the majority of Manitoba’s 137 municipalities.
As of noon, more than 38,000 people had cast their ballot, according to the City of Winnipeg.
Waverley West is one of the areas guaranteed to have a new face as Janice Lukes, who represented the ward as city councillor since its creation in 2018, decided not to seek re-election.
The candidates hoping to replace Lukes all had great ideas, Burt says, particularly getting a hockey rink and easing traffic congestion by linking Bison Drive and Waverley Street.
“A lot of them spoke about issues that are on our minds,” she said. “I think there’s several capable people.”
Results for all of Manitoba will be updated as they are received from voting locations on the 2026 Manitoba municipal elections website shortly after polls close at 8 p.m.
CBC Manitoba will also have coverage of the election online and on radio and television.
Voters wait in line at Bison Run School for the polling station to open on Wednesday morning. (Meaghan Ketcheson/CBC)
A general municipal election happens every four years and always on the third Wednesday in October. The only exceptions are in Winnipeg Beach, Dunnottar and Victoria Beach, where elections were held July 24.
Tyler Wiwchar was first in line to cast his ballot at Bison Run School, stopping on his way to work.
“I thought the first stop would be coming to vote as it it’s an important thing to do — try to get there as soon as possible,” he said. “Everyone should be able to have the opportunity to come vote and select someone that represents Winnipeg.”
His choice was still being determined as he waited for the door to open. As Wiwchar did some last second research, he used a sports analogy for making a selection.
“Yeah, just like a hockey decision, a quick and quick and simple play,” he joked.
Bola Osagie says she believes the people she voted for ‘are good candidates that would move this area forward.’ (Rudy Gauer/CBC)
Bola Osagie, who made her choice right after Wiwchar at Bison Run School, called it a privilege to vote.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity to express what I wanna see done in the city,” she said.
“I listened to them talk and I found out about the people I wanted to vote for and I believe that they are good candidates that would move this area forward.”
For a look at the promises Winnipeg’s mayoral candidates have made during the election campaign, click here.
The City of Winnipeg says the busiest times at polling stations are typically right when the they open and then again from 3 p.m. until close.
Don’t worry if you’re still waiting to vote at the deadline. As long as you’re in line, you’ll be able to mark your choices.
But if you have the option consider voting during the quieter period between 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., when the process is likely a little quicker, the city says.
Winnipeg voters must be Canadian citizens, at least 18 years old on Oct. 28 and Winnipeg residents or property owners for at least six months (since April 28), the city says.
Eligibility to vote in municipal and school board elections can by found on the provincial government website. This includes eligibility for non-resident voters in municipal elections.
More candidates to choose from
More Manitobans are getting a choice of who leads their communities than in 2022.
There are fewer acclamations compared to four years ago, the Association of Manitoba Municipalities said. Uncontested races are down to 30 per cent from 37 per cent in 2022.
At the same time, the number of women candidates has increased to 340 this year from 289 in the previous election, the association said.
Incumbent mayors in several Manitoba communities, however, were acclaimed after no challengers registered to run. Those include Portage la Prairie, Winkler and Niverville.
Some places, like the Municipality of Cartwright-Roblin and the Rural Municipality of Argyle, saw their entire slate of council candidates acclaimed.
There’s also more voting flexibility this year in Winnipeg, home to more than half the province’s population. There are 184 polling stations and registered voters should have received a card letting them know exactly when and where to cast a ballot.
“The voters card is going to present not one, but two convenient locations,” said Sherwood Armbruster, the City of Winnipeg’s senior election official.
“We’re also proud of the fact that we had a record number of advanced voters. More than 50,000 Winnipeggers have already cast their vote, which is 20 per cent higher than the previous record that was set four years ago.”
If someone hasn’t received a voters card, they can call 311 to ask where their polling station is, or look it up on the city’s where do I vote? web page.
“We always recommend you bring your voters notice if you have one. If you don’t, bring one piece of valid government-issued photo ID with your name and current address,” said Armbruster.
A list of accepted ID is available on the city’s website.
If you’re not sure which ward you live in, you can check out a series of ward maps on the City of Winnipeg website. There’s a set of school division ward boundary maps too.