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What happens behind the ballot box?

August 31, 2026 · 19 min

Show notes

When most people think about elections, they think about candidates, campaigns and Voting Day. But have you ever wondered what happens behind the scenes to make an election possible?

On the latest episode of OttaTalk, Ottawa City Clerk Caitlin Salter-MacDonald takes us behind the ballot box to explore the planning, people and processes that help make our Municipal elections happen. From recruiting more than 5,000 election workers and setting up hundreds of voting places across the city to ensuring voting is accessible, secure and fair, you'll learn what it takes to run one of the largest civic operations in Ottawa.

Whether you're planning to vote, curious about how elections work, or interested in becoming an election worker, this episode takes you behind the ballot box to see how our municipal elections come together.

Our hosts are Nathalie and Tom.

Listen now:
· Spotify

· Apple Podcasts

· YouTube

Links for this episode:

· Ottawa.ca/vote

· Am I on the Voters’ List?

· Who is running in my ward?

· Kids Corner

· Election worker job opportunities

OttaTalk is the official City of Ottawa podcast, where City staff talk about programs, projects and initiatives that affect your everyday life. How can I prevent fires in my home? What are we doing to solve homelessness? How can we party safely? We have the questions and the answers on OttaTalk.

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