Can you leave work to vote in Ontario’s municipal election? The three-hour rule your employer must follow
For employees in Ontario who work on municipal voting day. As of October 2026.
Ontario elects municipal councils and school boards on the fourth Monday in October; in 2026, that is Monday, October 26. If you work a long shift that day, you may worry that you will not reach a voting place before it closes. Ontario’s Municipal Elections Act has a rule for exactly this.
The problem: a long shift and a fixed voting window
- Voting day: the fourth Monday in October (section 5 of the Act). In 2026, that is Monday, October 26.
- Voting hours: voting places are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (section 46 of the Act). A clerk may open some voting places earlier.
- A shift that starts early and ends late can leave little or none of that window free.
What the law says
Section 50 of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996:
- Three consecutive hours. If your hours of work would not otherwise leave you three consecutive hours to vote on voting day, you are entitled to be absent from work for as long as is necessary to have that time.
- Timing. The absence is timed to suit your employer’s convenience as much as possible.
- No pay deduction. Your employer may not deduct pay or impose any other penalty for that absence.
How the three hours work: examples
- You work 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. you already have three consecutive hours, so the rule gives no extra time.
- You work 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Only two hours are left after work (6 p.m. to 8 p.m.). You may be absent long enough to have three, for example by leaving at 5 p.m.
- You work 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. No time is free while voting places are open, so you may be absent long enough to have three consecutive hours, at a time that suits your employer as much as possible.
Who can vote
Under section 17 of the Act, you can vote in a municipality if, on voting day, you:
- live there, or own or rent property there, or are the spouse of someone who does;
- are a Canadian citizen;
- are at least 18 years old; and
- are not prohibited from voting by law.
You also need to be on the voters’ list. Ontario says that if your name is on the list, you must show one piece of identification with your name and address.
What you can do
- Compare your shift with 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Count the free hours while voting places are open.
- Talk to your employer early. If you will not have three consecutive hours, ask when they would like you to take the time.
- Check the voters’ list and your voting place with your municipal clerk.
- Ask about other ways to vote. Ontario says to contact your municipal clerk about advance voting or other methods, such as vote by mail or internet voting, where your municipality offers them.
- Bring ID with your name and address.
The point to remember
Three consecutive hours between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. If your shift leaves less, you may take the time you need, at a time your employer chooses as much as possible, with no pay deduction.
Check the official pages before you act:
Join the conversation
Are you working on voting day? Share your questions in the comments. Please do not post personal details, employer names or documents.
This article is general information on Canadian law, as of October 2026. It is not legal advice and does not create a representative relationship. Always consult a licensed legal professional for your specific situation.
