Elections

2026 Municipal Election

The next Municipal Election is Monday, October 26, 2026.

Municipal elections are held every four years.

Voting day is always the last Monday in October.

The next term of Council will run from November 15, 2026, to November 14, 2030.

Specific information about voting methods, voting locations, advance polls and candidate information will be made available in early 2026.

VOTING

Who can vote?

To be eligible to vote, you must meet the Qualifications of Electors as listed in the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, s.17(2)
A person is entitled to be an elector in a local municipal election if, on voting day, they meet all of the following conditions:

They live in the local municipality, own or rent land there, or are the spouse of someone who owns or rents land there.
They are a Canadian citizen.
They are at least 18 years old.
They are not prohibited from voting under subsection (3) or by any other law.

What to Bring to Vote:

Identification is required when you vote.
You will need to show ID which contains your name and address. You may have to show two pieces of ID to accomplish this.

Please bring an original, or certified/notarized copy, of any of the following documents:

Ontario driver’s licence
Ontario Health Card (photo card)
Ontario Photo Card
Ontario motor vehicle permit (vehicle portion)
cancelled personalized cheque
mortgage statement, lease or rental agreement relating to property in Ontario
insurance policy or insurance statement
loan agreement or other financial agreement with a financial institution
document issued or certified by a court in Ontario
any other document from the government of Canada, Ontario or a municipality in Ontario or from an agency or such a government
any document from a Band Council in Ontario established under the Indian Act (Canada)
income tax assessment notice
child tax benefit statement
statement of employment insurance benefits paid T4E
statement of old age security T4A (OAS)
statement of Canada Pension Plan benefits T4A (P)
Canada Pension Plan statement of contributions
statement of direct deposit for Ontario Works
statement of direct deposit for Ontario Disability Support Program
Workplace Safety and Insurance Board statement of benefits T5007
property tax assessment
credit card statement, bank account statement, or RRSP, RRIF, RHOSP or T5 statement
CNIB Card or a card from another registered charitable organization that provides services to persons with disabilities
hospital card or record
document showing campus residence, issued by the office or officials responsible for student residence at a post-secondary institution
document showing residence at a long-term care home under the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007, issued by the Administrator for the home
utility bill for hydro, water, gas, telephone or cable TV or a bill from a public utilities commission
cheque stub, T4 statement or pay receipt issued by an employer
transcript or report card from a post-secondary school

Voters List - How to Update Your Information

Elections Ontario maintains the Permanent Register of Electors for Ontario, commonly known as the Register or Voters List. This list includes individuals who are eligible to vote in provincial and municipal elections across Ontario.

You can use Elections Ontario's Voter Registration application to confirm, update, or add your information if you:

Changed your name or address
Own or rent a new property
No longer own or rent a property
Want to remove your information from the Register

Voting in Multiple Municipal Elections

If you or your spouse own or rent property in a municipality other than your primary residence, you may be eligible to vote in more than one municipal election.

For more information on updating your voter registration, removing a deceased person from the Register, or joining the Register of Future Voters, visit the Elections Ontario website.

Students and Voter Registration

Students attending school away from home may be eligible to vote in multiple municipalities. If a student’s permanent residence and temporary student home are in different municipalities or a Territory Without Municipal Organization area, they can update or add their "home address" as their permanent family residence and list their student home as an additional property they, or their spouse, own or rent.

Updating Your School Support

As of January 1, 2024, the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) is no longer responsible for collecting voter information for municipal elections. However, MPAC is required to collect school support information.

Property owners in Ontario must designate support for a school system, even if they do not have children or if their children do not currently attend school. This designation appears on your Property Assessment Notice.

You can update your school support designation through MPAC's Online School Support Tool To learn more about school support, visit the MPAC's website..

Running for Municipal Office

Make a difference in your community. Running for municipal council gives you the chance to:

Shape local policies and priorities
Bring your ideas, experience, and voice to the table
Lead change and address the issues that matter to you
Be part of the democratic process at the local level

As a member of Council, you'll represent your community, help guide decisions, and work to make our municipality stronger. You'll attend meetings, help set policy, and ensure the Township of The North Shore is well-run and financially sound.

If you're passionate about your community and ready to lead, consider running for office.

Who can run for office?

You can run for municipal office if you meet all of the following criteria on the day you file your nomination:

You are a resident of the municipality, or you own or rent property there (or are the spouse of someone who does)
You are a Canadian citizen
You are at least 18 years old
You are not otherwise disqualified from holding municipal office under any legislation

Positions Available

Mayor - 1 position at large
Councillors - 4 positions – 1 position at large, and 1 for each of the 3 wards

The Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) 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 MMAH Municipal Councillor's Guide is the source of this abbreviated description for the role of head of Council, which in the Township of The North Shore 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 a Councillor is based on the Municipal Councillor's Guide published by MMAH:

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.

Ward Boundaries

The Township of The North Shore is separated into 3 wards for the municipal election. You are required to vote for the ward you reside in, or any at large position. However, you may run as a candidate in any ward or for an at large position, despite where you reside.

See Township of The North Shore Ward Boundaries Map in documents below.

Candidate Nominations

Nominations open Friday, May 1, 2026, and close on Nomination Day, Friday, August 21, 2026, at 2:00 pm.

Candidates are required to complete the following to file a nomination:

Nomination Form 1
Proof of identification
Declaration of Qualifications
Consent to release personal information

Withdrawal Deadline:
Candidates have until 2:00 pm on Nomination Day (Friday, August 21, 2026) to withdraw their nomination.

In Person Filing:
All candidates must attend the Municipal Office in person to file their nomination papers with the Clerk.
Email municipalclerk@townshipofthenorthshore.ca to book an appointment.

Candidate List:
Once filed, candidate names will be posted on our website and updated daily.

When to Start Campaigning:
You cannot begin campaigning until your nomination papers have been officially filed.

Voter's List
The Voter's list is estimated to be available to Candidates September 1, 2026.

Candidate's Guide
The Province of Ontario releases a candidates' guide for every municipal election.
It is anticipated that the Province of Ontario will release a 2026 Guide in April 2026.

Key Election Dates

The 2026 Municipal Election is Monday, October 26, 2026.

Friday, May 1^st, 2026 – First day to file Nominations
Friday, August 21, 2026 (9:00 AM -2:00 PM) – Last day to file a Nomination or withdraw a Nomination
Friday, August 21 to Saturday, November 14, 2026 – First possible Lame Duck period.
Monday, August 24, 2026, by 4:00 PM – Deadline for Municipal Clerk to certify Candidate Nominations
Tuesday, September 1, 2026 – Revision period begins for Voter’s List. Voter’s List made available to candidates
Date TBD at 10:00 AM – Advanced voting begins for eligible electors via internet and telephone voting
Friday, October 23, 2026 – Last day for third party advertisers to file a notice of registration
Monday, October 26, 2026, VOTING DAY 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM – Eligible Voters can vote via internet voting until 8:00 PM in-person at the Municipal Office
Monday, October 26, 2026, to Saturday, November 14, 2026 – Second possible Lame Duck period
Sunday, November 15, 2026 – New Term of Council begins
Monday, December 7, 2026, at 7:00 PM – First meeting of the newly elected or acclaimed Council. Declarations of Office and Oaths of Allegiance, and Code of Conduct must be signed by all Members before business of the Township of The North Shore is conducted.
Monday, January 25, 2027 – Last day to make the Post-Election Accessibility Report available to the public

Accessibility Plan and Post-Election Accessibility Report

The focus of the Accessibility Plan evaluates the accessibility of the electoral services offered to all electors and candidates in the 2026 Municipal and School Board Election.

Under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, the Municipal Clerk is legislatively responsible for conducting Municipal and School Board Elections and establishing policies and procedures to ensure that all electors can participate fully in the election. The Municipal Elections Act requires the Clerk to regard the needs of electors and candidates with disabilities and ensure that all voting places are accessible to electors with disabilities.

The Clerk is also required, within 90 days after a regular election, to prepare a report on the identification, removal, and prevention of barriers that affect electors and candidates with disabilities and make the report available to the public.

The Post-Election Accessibility Report outlines the actions taken regarding the identification, removal and prevention of barriers that affected electors and candidates with disabilities and how these actions impacted their voting experience.

Election Resources (Also see saved Documents below)

See the following links to Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) training, tools and resources for candidates running for municipal office in Ontario.

Candidate Supports

Running for Municipal Office - Everything You Need to Know as a Diverse Candidate