2026 Saint John Municipal Election

Election Day: Monday, May 11, 2026

Saint John voters will head to the polls to elect a Mayor, two Councillors at Large, and eight Ward Councillors (two per ward) to serve four-year terms on Common Council.

• Candidates for Mayor
• Councillors at Large (Candidates)
• Ward 1 - West (Candidates)
• Ward 2 - North (Candidates)
• Ward 3 - Central Peninsula (Candidates)
• Ward 4 - East (Candidates)

What Are You Voting For?

Saint John Common Council consists of 11 elected members:

All positions serve four-year terms. The next election after this one will be in 2030.

What Does Common Council Do?

Common Council is the governing body of the City of Saint John. It is responsible for:

• Setting the municipal tax rate and approving the city budget
• Passing by-laws that regulate land use, zoning, building, noise, animals, and more
• Overseeing municipal services: water and sewer, roads and sidewalks, fire protection, police (through the Police Commission), parks and recreation, planning and development
• Making decisions on economic development, regional cooperation, and city infrastructure
• Appointing the City Manager, who runs day-to-day operations

Council meets every two weeks on Monday evenings at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chamber, 2nd floor of City Hall, 15 Market Square.

What Does the Mayor Do?

The Mayor is the head of Council and chief spokesperson for the city. The Mayor:

• Chairs Common Council meetings
• Serves as ex-officio member on all Standing Committees
• Represents Saint John externally - to other governments, organizations, and the public
• Provides civic leadership on key issues facing the city

What Does the Deputy Mayor Do?

The Deputy Mayor is appointed by Council - traditionally the councillor at large who received the most votes. The Deputy Mayor steps in when the Mayor is absent.

How to Vote

Am I Eligible?

You can vote if you are:

• A Canadian citizen
• At least 18 years old on Election Day
• A resident of the City of Saint John (or own property there)

Before you vote, confirm you’re on the voters list. You can check and update your registration through the Elections NB Voters List page. The revision period closes May 7, 2026 - after that date, you cannot be added or make changes before Election Day.

Where Do I Vote?

Your polling station is based on your address. You can find it by:

• Checking your Voter Information Card (mailed out around April 27, 2026)
• Using the Elections NB polling station search - enter your street address to find your station

Polls are open 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.

Advance Polling

If you can’t make it on May 11, you can vote early:

Advance polling locations will be posted on the Elections NB website closer to the election.

Vote by Mail (Special Ballot)

If you will be away from Saint John, are housebound, or otherwise cannot vote in person, you can vote by mail. Any registered elector is eligible.

How to apply:

1. Wait for the election period to begin (special ballots issued starting April 20, 2026)
2. Apply through the Elections NB online portal, or request a paper form from your returning office
3. You will receive a package by courier containing your ballot, a secrecy envelope, a certificate envelope, and instructions
4. Mark your ballot, seal it in the envelopes, sign the certificate, and return it to the returning office

Your completed ballot must arrive at the returning office before 8:00 p.m. on Election Day (May 11). You are responsible for return shipping. Someone else may hand-deliver it on your behalf.

Note: A power of attorney does not give someone the right to vote on your behalf.

Key Dates

Official Resources

• Elections New Brunswick - the body that administers municipal elections
• Elections NB - Election Schedule
• Elections NB - Vote by Mail
• Elections NB - Find Your Polling Station
• City of Saint John - Mayor and Common Council
• City of Saint John - Running for Common Council