More Voices. Better Decisions.
Municipal Election 2026
The future of our community starts with informed and engaged residents.
Every four years, Sarnia residents have the opportunity to shape the future of our city by electing a new Mayor and City Council. The decisions made at City Hall affect our neighbourhoods, housing, transportation, parks, public spaces, local businesses, and quality of life.
At nuSarnia, we believe strong communities are built when residents understand how local government works, feel connected to the issues that matter and have meaningful opportunities to participate.
Throughout this campaign, we’ll be sharing civic education resources, collecting community priorities, hosting conversations, introducing candidates, and encouraging more residents to take part in local democracy.
We are proudly non-partisan. We do not endorse candidates or political parties. Our goal is to help residents make informed decisions while creating opportunities for respectful, community-focused conversations.
Community Dashboard
A live snapshot of the campaign.
(These numbers will be updated throughout the campaign.)
Why Municipal Elections Matter
Municipal government has one of the biggest impacts on our daily lives.
City Council makes decisions about:
- Housing & neighbourhood growth
- Roads & sidewalks
- Cycling infrastructure
- Parks & trails
- Recreation facilities
- Public transit
- Planning & development
- Downtown revitalization
- Environmental initiatives
- City services & budgets
These decisions influence where we live, how we move, where we gather, and how our community grows. Yet municipal government is often the least understood level of government.
This election is an opportunity to learn more about how local decisions shape everyday life and how your voice can help shape Sarnia’s future.
Why nuSarnia is Involved
Everything nuSarnia works on depends on thoughtful local decision-making. Whether we’re creating public spaces, advocating for safer streets, improving neighbourhood connections, supporting housing conversations, or activating parks and trails, municipal government plays a role.
Our mission is to create healthier, more connected communities. Helping residents participate in local democracy is a natural extension of this mission.
Our Role
We’ll help residents:
- Better understand local government
- Learn about community issues
- Share candidate priorities
- Compare candidate perspectives
- Participate in respectful conversations
- Make informed decisions
Our Commitment
We will:
- Remain non-partisan
- Focus on community issues
- Share balanced information
- Elevate community voice
- Encourage respectful dialogue
We will not:
- Endorse candidates
- Recommend who to vote for
- Publish candidate rankings
- Support political parties
Join the Conversation
We’re taking the municipal election conversation into the community. Find us at events and pop-ups across Sarnia to share your priorities, tell us what you want for the future of our city, and learn more about the 2026 municipal election.
Date: September 15, 2026 from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Location: Lambton College
Date: September 19, 2026 starting at 8:30 AM
Location: Howard Nature Watson Trail
Date: September 25, 2026 from 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Location: Howard Nature Watson Trail Bisect with Midtown Trail
Date: October 1, 2026 from 5:30 – 7:30 PM
Location: Mitton Village
Date: October 2, 2026 from 5:15 – 8:30 PM
Location: Downtown Sarnia
Where We've Been
As we head toward the 2026 Municipal Election, we’re bringing the conversation into the community. At events and pop-ups across Sarnia, we’re asking residents to share their priorities, ideas and hopes for the future of our city. Here’s where we’ve been and what we’ve heard along the way.
September 8, 2026 | The Pitch Indoor Sports
August 15, 2026 | Centennial Park
We brought the conversation about Sarina’s future to Kids Funfest, inviting residents of all ages to share what matters most to them as we look a head to the 2026 Municipal Election.
Through our Community Priorities activity, residents voted on what they think the next City Council should focus on to build a better Sarnia. parks & Public Spaces emerged as the top priority, with residents also showing strong support for Tourism & Events and Housing.
Our Community Wishing Wall invited people to think a little bigger and tell us their wish for Sarnia’s future. We collected 100+ wishes, with ideas ranging from more parks, recreation and things to do, to better ways to get around and more places for people to gather and connect.
What we heard at Kids Funfest is just the beginning. We’ll continue bringing these activities into the community and adding what we heard to a growing picture of the priorities, ideas and hopes Sarnia residents have for their city.
Frequently Asked Questions
The 2026 Municipal election will be held on Monday, October 26, 2026. Advance voting opportunities and internet voting details will be announced by the City of Sarnia as they become available.
If you’re unsure whether you’re eligible to vote, the City of Sarnia provides the most up-to-date information on voter eligibility and registration.
The City of Sarnia maintains the official Voters’ List and provides instructions on how to register or update your information.
Voting locations and internet voting information will be provided by the City of Sarnia closer to Election Day.
Sarnia voters will elect:
- Mayor
- City Councillors
- City/County Councillors
- School Board Trustees
Once nominations close, the City of Sarnia will publish the official list of certified candidates.
We’ll also feature candidate profiles and questionnaire responses here to help residents learn more about everyone seeking office.
Thinking about running for office?
The City of Sarnia provides information about eligibility, nominations, campaign rules, important dates, and candidate resources.
For official election information, including voting , candidates, important dates, and election notices, visit the City of Sarnia’s election website.