To vote in a municipal election, you must:

• Be a Canadian citizen and at least 18 years old.
• Be qualified to vote in the Township by:
  • living in the Township, or
  • owning or renting property in the Township, or
  • being the spouse of somebody who owns or rents property in the Township.

• Not be prohibited from voting according to Section 17 of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 (MEA).

Note: property must be personally owner or rented to vote in that Township. Properties owned by a business or trust do not qualify.

University and College Students:

• Section 2 (2.1) of the MEA allows post-secondary students to vote in both the municipal election where they are attending school and the municipal election in their “home” municipality, provided they are residing in another municipality to attend a post-secondary institution and intend to return to their “home” municipality at the conclusion of their studies.

To add your name to the voters’ list or update your information, please visit the Elections Ontario Portal. You will need one piece of ID that has both your name and Ontario home address.

Please visit Register to Vote for more information on how to register to vote in provincial, municipal and school board elections in Ontario, including if you are temporarily living outside of Ontario and intend to return.

To ensure your correct school support designation is provided to Elections Ontario in time for the next municipal and school board elections on October 26, 2026, it should be reviewed and, if needed, updated by June 1, 2026.

While Elections Ontario maintains the Permanent Register of Electors in Ontario for provincial, municipal, and school board elections, MPAC (Municipal Property Assessment Corporation) is legislatively responsible for collecting school support designation information.

What is school support?
Whether you own or rent your home, your property is linked to a school board – even if you don’t have children or your children aren’t currently attending school. While you’re not required to make a designation, you do have the option to choose which school board you support. If you don’t make a choice, your support will default to the English-Public school board.

How to update school support designations
Property owners can change their school support designation online using MPAC AboutMyProperty™ or our online portal for tenants. To get started, choose the option that applies to you:

• I am a property owner
• I am a tenant

A step-by-step guide is available in English or French.

Please note: Registration may take up to 24 hours to activate.

You can submit a paper Application for Direction of School Support form in English or French and mail or email it to MPAC.

To learn more or update a school support designation, visit mpac.ca/schoolsupport.

All eligible voters will receive a Voting Kit by mail around the last week of September. The kit includes everything needed to vote and return the ballot using a prepaid return envelope. Canada Post will deliver completed ballots to the Municipal Office for counting by Election Day or completed ballots can be dropped off at the Municipal Office.

Voters who update or correct their information on the Voter’s List between September 1–10, 2026 will also receive their Voting Kit by mail. The kit will include:

• Voting instructions
• A Voter Declaration Form
• A ballot
• A secrecy envelope
• A prepaid return envelope

If a voter does not receive their kit or receives one with incorrect information, they must update their details on the Voter’s List to receive a corrected kit. After September 10, anyone revising their information will receive a Replacement Voting Kit immediately at the time of revision.

Anyone who receives a Voting Kit addressed to someone else should contact the Municipal Office. It is illegal to vote using another person’s kit.

Nomination Period for Candidates:

• May 1, 2026 – August 18, 2026
  8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday (excluding holidays)

• Nomination Day: Friday, August 21, 2026, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Third Party Advertising Registration Period:

• May 1, 2026 – October 23, 2026
  8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday (excluding holidays)

“Lame Duck” Period (if applicable):

• Related to Section 275 of the Municipal Act, 2001: if less than 75% of incumbent councillors seek re-election, Council is restricted from passing by-laws allocating spending over $50,000 or creating liabilities over $50,000.

  • August 21, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. – November 14, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.

Preliminary List of Electors Released: September 1, 2026

Election Day: Monday, October 26, 2026 (voting closes at 8:00 p.m.)

Term of New Council: November 15, 2026 – November 14, 2030

Last date for any candidate or third-party campaigning: December 31, 2026

Candidate and Third Party Financial Reporting Deadlines:

• Regular Reporting: March 30, 2027 at 2:00 p.m.
• Late Reporting (with $500 fee): April 29, 2027 at 2:00 p.m.

To run for Mayor or Councillor in the Township of Perth South, on the day the nomination paper is filed, a person must be:

• A Canadian citizen
• 18 years of age or older
• A resident of the Township of Perth South, or
• An owner or tenant of land in the Township of Perth South, or the spouse of the owner or tenant

The Nomination Period begins May 1, 2026.  The Township will receive nomination forms for the office of Mayor and Councillor.  

You will need to pay the nomination fee, provide identification and swear an oath at the Clerk’s office. You must also complete the following form: 

Nomination Paper - Form 1

Note: Candidates for Perth South municipal council are not required to submit 25 signatures for endorsement of their nomination as there are fewer than 4,000 electors in the Township.

Nomination Fees

Mayor: $200.00

All other offices: $100.00

Payment methods: cash, debit, certified cheque, or money order.

Withdrawal of Nomination

If you no longer wish to run in the Township of Perth South’s municipal election, you must file a written withdrawal in-person before 2:00 p.m. on Nomination Day (August 21, 2026).

Withdrawal of Nomination Form - EL19

Candidate Information Package

• Candidate Nomination Checklist
• Candidate Information Package
• Nomination Paper - Form 1
• Notice of Collection and Consent to Release Personal Information
• Declaration of Proper Use of the Voters' List 

Policies, Plans & Procedures

• 2026 Clerk's Rules and Procedures 
• Use of Corporate Resources for Election Purposes
• 2026 Municipal Election Accessibility Plan

There are specific rules for third‑party advertising in Ontario’s municipal council and school board elections. A third‑party advertisement is any ad that supports, promotes, or opposes a candidate, or encourages a “yes” or “no” vote on a ballot question.

Any third‑party advertiser who intends to spend money on election advertising must register using Form 7 with the Municipal Clerk and file a financial statement. For more detailed information, please consult the 2026 Third‑Party Advertisers’ Guide.

Candidate Information Session - February & March 2026

Experienced and knowledgeable trainers from Clerks On Call will guide prospective election candidates through the essential information they need before deciding to run for municipal office.

This includes:

• understanding some of the reasons to run - or not to run - for council
• key considerations before entering the race (personal, financial, etc.)
• the roles and responsibilities of council members and staff
• the powers and influence of municipal government and council members (including strong mayor powers)
• overview of governance, legislative, and decision-making process
• the importance of transparency and accountability
• general campaign information
• strategies for engaging with the media and public

Dates & Locations:

Wednesday, February 25
Pyramid Recreation Centre – End Zone
317 James Street South, St. Marys
6:00 – 9:00pm

Wednesday, March 25
Perth East Recreation Complex
40 Temperance Street, Milverton
6:00 – 9:00pm

Join virtually by registering via email by 4:30 pm on the day of the session:
clerksoffice@town.stmarys.on.ca.

Prospective candidates can access a range of helpful resources through various associations and organizations. To learn more about municipal elections, explore the following:

• 2026 Candidates’ Guide — Ontario Municipal Council and School Board Elections
• AMCTO Candidates Guide to Accessible Elections
• Lead Where You Live – A Guide to Running for Municipal Council
• Federation of Canadian Municipalities - Municipal Elections in Canada: A Guide for Women Candidates
• Municipal Election information, guides, and resources
• Election Resources: Supporting your Run for Municipal Office in 2026
• Support for Candidates
• We All Win – Diversity on Council
• 2026 Third-Party Advertisers’ Guide | ontario.ca

Relevant Legislation

• Municipal Elections Act, 1996
• Education Act, 1990
• Municipal Act, 2001
• Election Modernization Act, 2016
• Education Act, 1990

A Guide to Government Services

The MAH guide is the source of this abbreviated description for the role of head of Council, which in the Township of Perth South is referred to as the Mayor:

• to act as the municipality's chief executive officer;
• to preside over council meetings such that business is carried out both efficiently and effectively;
• to provide leadership to the council;
• to provide information/recommendations to council on policies, practices, procedures, to ensure transparency and accountability; and,
• to represent the municipality at official functions.

This abbreviated description for the role of Councillor is based on the guide published by MAH:

• to represent the public and to consider the well- being and interests of the municipality;
• to develop and evaluate the policies and programs of the municipality;
• to determine which services the municipality provides;
• to maintain the financial integrity of the municipality;
• to ensure that administrative policies practices are in place to implement the decisions of council; and,
• to ensure the accountability and transparency of the operations of the municipality.

Municipal councillors also sit as members of various Committees. As a member of municipal council, you would be required to attend meetings of the committees on which you are a member, and also to attend meetings of the full Township Council.