Elections

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 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.

Qualifications for Mayor & Councillor

To run for mayor or councillor in the Township of Perth Southd, 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 erth South, or
• An owner or tenant of land in the Township of Perth South, or the spouse of the owner or tenant

The Township of Perth South has one Mayor, and 6 Councillors elected at-large to represent the Township.

Role of Council members

The Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MAH) has published a document called, "The Municipal Councillor's Guide." This guide provides an overview of the many duties and challenges elected officials at the municipal level face.

Mayor

The MAH guide is the source of this abbreviated description for the role of head of Council, which in the Towhship 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.

Councillors

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.

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

Candidate Information Sessions

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.

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.)

NOTE: More information about Vote by Mail will follow in the upcoming months.

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

Ending of Campaigns:

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

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.

Are you registered to vote? Check, update or add your information to the voters list for provincial, municipal and school board elections in Ontario.

If you are a resident, property owner, or tenant in Perth South, a Canadian citizen, at least 18 years old, and not legally prohibited from voting, you are eligible to vote in West Perth’s municipal and school board elections.

Planning to vote in the next Township of Perth South election?

Now you can get on the voters list for both municipal and provincial elections, all in one place.

RegisterToVoteON.ca is where you’ll find information on eligibility, registration and how to check, update or add your information to the voters list. Get on the voters list today!

For questions related to voter registration, email info@registertovoteon.ca or call 1.866.242.3025.

Here are the Official 2022 Municipal Election Results for the Township of Perth South.