Burlington NewsElection Guide
Elections for beginners

What are you actually voting for?

You’re choosing a mayor, one councillor for your ward and an eligible school-board trustee.

See my ballotFind my ward
Burlington’s six voting wards
Simplified orientation diagram of Burlington’s six 2026 voting wards

The whole city elects one mayor. Each ward elects one councillor.

Your ballot has three jobs.

01

Choose a mayor

The mayor represents the whole city but still needs council support for most decisions.

02

Choose your councillor

Your councillor represents your ward and votes on citywide decisions.

03

Choose a trustee

Trustees make school-board decisions. They don’t sit on City Council.

Who handles what?

City of Burlington
  • Transit and local roads
  • Parks and fire services
  • Local planning
  • The City budget
Halton Region
  • Drinking water and waste
  • Paramedics and public health
  • Regional roads
  • Housing and social services
Ontario and school boards
  • Municipal powers
  • Major planning rules
  • Education policy
  • Some transit and highways
H
Burlington’s mayor and councillors also sit on Halton Regional Council. That’s why the people you elect locally also vote on regional services.

How a promise becomes real.

01Someone proposes itA candidate can put an idea forward. They can’t promise everyone else’s vote.
02Council votesStaff study the details. Council debates and votes.
03The work still has to happenApproval is only the start. A project may still need funding, permits and construction.
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Three useful questions

Can the City control it? What will it cost? How will we know it happened?

See the real choices.

Meet the candidatesSee my ballotCompare two candidates

Built from City of Burlington, Halton Region and Ontario election information. See how sources are handled.