The City of Waterloo Council is holding a public meeting on March 30, 2026, to hear from residents about how they want to cast their ballots in the next local election in Waterloo, Ontario. The meeting starts at 2 p.m. at 100 Regina Street South and gives the community a chance to weigh in on whether the city should continue using only paper ballots or adopt alternative voting methods.
In the last election in 2022, Waterloo was one of the few local municipalities where residents could only vote in person using paper ballots, while some nearby towns offered options to vote by phone or over the internet. According to the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the city must pass a local bylaw by May 1, 2026, if it wants to authorize any different voting methods for the election on October 26, 2026. Nearby Kitchener has already decided to stick with paper ballots but plans to pilot drive-thru voting and home visits for people who cannot leave their houses.
The council is also expected to consider updates on two ongoing housing proposals for the city. One proposal from the Sunvest Group includes 179 residential units—consisting of 59 townhouses and 120 stacked townhouses—and 250 parking spots at 720 Erbsville Road. The second project at 36 Westhill Drive would see a four-storey apartment building with 74 units and 19 single-family houses built in the Westhill and Westvale area.
Residents can participate in the meeting by signing up to speak in person as a delegation or by sending written comments to the city clerk via email. Those who cannot attend can watch a live video of the discussion on the city’s official YouTube channel to stay informed on these community decisions.
