Elections

Municipal Council and School Board Elections in Ontario are held every four years on the fourth Monday of October. 

  • Upcoming: 2026 Municipal Council and School Board Elections
  • Previous: 2022 Municipal Council and School Board Elections

2026 Municipal Council and School Board Elections

Information for Voters
Information for Candidates
Information for Third Party Advertisers

Candidates and Official Results

Key Dates

 

Date  Action  
April 22, 2026 Optional Regional Candidate and Third-Party Advertiser Training 
May 1, 2026Nomination and registration periods begin for the Offices of Mayor, Councillor, School Board Trustee, Police Village of Russell Trustee until August 21 at 2:00 p.m. and as Registered Third Party until October 23
August 21, 2026Deadline for candidates to file a nomination (9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.) or withdraw a nomination (before 2:00 p.m.)
Lame Duck Period (Restricted Acts for Council) begins 
August 24, 2026Clerk to certify candidate nomination papers (by 4:00 p.m.)
Candidates elected by Acclamation to be declared (after 4:00 p.m.) 
August 27, 2026First day to post election campaign signs (must adhere to the Sign By-law in effect) - 60 days prior to the municipal election-voting day.
September 1, 2026Voters' List to be reproduced and available to certified candidates by request
A person may submit an application to have their name added to or removed from the Voters' List until Voting Day
September 20 to September 30, 2026Interim list of changes to Voters' List provided to certified candidates by request and revisions continue
September 30, 2026

Last day to provide to Certified Candidates:

  • Final certificate of applicable maximum expenses
  • Certificate of applicable maximum amount of contributions to a candidate's own election campaign
  • Certificate of applicable maximum amount for parties, etc., after voting day

Last day to provide to Registered Third Parties:

  • Certificate of applicable maximum expenses
  • Certificate of applicable maximum amount for parties, etc. after voting day
October 1, 2026Last day for Council to establish a Compliance Audit Committee for the 2026-2030 term of office
October 23, 2026Last day to register as a third party advertiser
October 21 to 26, 2026Election Period (beginning October 21 at 9:00 a.m. and ending October 26 at 8:00 p.m.)
October 26, 2026Election Day (until 8:00 p.m.)
October 27, 2026Declare as soon as possible the results and provide information to the public on the number of votes, declined and rejected ballots
November 15, 2026New term of office commences until November 14, 2030
November 16, 2026Inaugural Meeting (at 6:00 p.m.)
December 31, 2026End of election campaign period for candidates and registered third parties
March 30, 2027Deadline for candidates and registered third parties to file their initial financial statements and auditor’s reports (by 2:00 p.m.) 

Compliance Audit Committee 

The Municipal Election Compliance Audit Committee considers applications requesting compliance audits of candidates or third party advertiser election campaign finances, any resulting auditors’ reports, and the Clerk’s Office's Report identifying apparent contribution contraventions under section 88 of the Municipal Elections Act.

Each municipality and school board must appoint a Compliance Audit Committee by October 1, 2026.

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Guides