2026 Municipal & School Board Elections
Information for Voters, Candidates, and Third Party Advertisers is listed below. For additional information, or to schedule an appointment to file your nomination papers, please contact:
Beth Morton, Clerk-Administrator
Tel: 705-636-5941
E: beth.morton@townshipofperry.ca
Kim Seguin, Treasurer-Deputy Clerk
Tel: 705-636-5941
E: kim.seguin@townshipofperry.ca
Nomination Packages will be available below or in-person at the Municipal Office as of Friday, May 1, 2026. The Nomination Period for the 2026 Municipal and School Board Election runs from Friday, May 1, 2026 until 2 p.m. on Friday, August 21, 2026. It is encouraged that you schedule an appointment to file your nomination papers with the Clerk. Nomination Papers must be filed in-person (by the candidate or agent). Please note that staff will be unable to accept nominations from Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. until Friday, May 8, 2026 at 4:30 p.m., as they will be attending election training at this time.
Note: Mandatory Training will occur for all successful candidates with date to be determined soon. Attendance is required.
Candidate Qualifications
Qualifications for members of Council are set out in Section 256 of the Municipal Act, 2001 and Section 17 of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996. In order to run for office in the Township of Perry, a person must be:
- A Canadian citizen;
- At least 18 years old;
- A resident of the Township of Perry or the owner or tenant of land here, or the spouse of such owner or tenant, and
- Who is not disqualified by any legislation from holding office.
The following are ineligible to be elected as Members of Council:
- An employee of the Township of Perry except during an authorized leave of absence (the leave of absence must begin upon filing the Nomination Form).
- A person who is not an employee of the municipality but who is the Clerk, Treasurer, Integrity Commissioner, Auditor General, Ombudsman or Registrar, or who holds any administrative position of the municipality.
- A judge of any of any court.
- A member of the Assembly as provided in the Legislative Assembly Act or of the Senate or House of Commons of Canada.
Below are the fillable PDF’s of Nomination Paper Forms for convenience.
- Form 1 – Nomination Paper
- Form 4 – Financial Statement – Auditor’s Report
- Form EL18(A) – Declaration of Qualifications
- Form EL 14 – Candidates Declaration for Proper Use of 2026 Voters’ List & Access to Candidates' Portal
- Freedom of Information Release
One (1) Mayor and Four (4) Councillors are to be elected. The Term of Office is November 15, 2026 to November 14, 2030.
IMPORTANT NOTE: It is encouraged to schedule an appointment with the Township to file your nomination papers. Appointments can be scheduled by contacting Beth Morton, Clerk-Administrator or Kim Seguin, Treasurer-Deputy Clerk, at 705-636-5941.
Nomination Packages will be available below or in-person at the Municipal Office as of Friday, May 1, 2026. The Nomination Period for the 2026 Municipal and School Board Election runs from Friday, May 1, 2026 until 2 p.m. on Friday, August 21, 2026. It is encouraged that you schedule an appointment to file your nomination papers with the Clerk. Nomination Papers must be filed in-person (by the candidate or agent). Please note that staff will be unable to accept nominations from Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. until Friday, May 8, 2026 at 4:30 p.m., as they will be attending election training at this time.
Below are the fillable PDF’s of Nomination Paper Forms for convenience.
- Form 1 – Nomination Paper
- Form 4 – Financial Statement – Auditor’s Report
- Form EL18(B) – Declaration of Qualifications
- Freedom of Information Release
IMPORTANT NOTE: It is encouraged to schedule an appointment with the Township to file your nomination papers. Appointments can be scheduled by contacting Beth Morton, Clerk-Administrator or Kim Seguin, Treasurer-Deputy Clerk, at 705-636-5941.
Packages to register as a Third-Party Advertiser will be available below or in-person at the Municipal Office as of Friday, May 1, 2026 until end of business day on Friday October 23, 2026. It is encouraged that you schedule an appointment to file your papers with the Clerk. Registrations must be filed in-person. The Advertising Period is restricted from May 1, 2026 to close of voting (8 p.m.) on October 26, 2026.Please note that staff will be unable to accept nominations from Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. until Friday, May 8, 2026 at 4:30 p.m., as they will be attending election training at this time.
Below are the fillable PDF’s of Nomination Paper Forms for convenience.
IMPORTANT NOTE: It is encouraged to schedule an appointment with the Township to file your nomination papers. Appointments can be scheduled by contacting Beth Morton, Clerk-Administrator or Kim Seguin, Treasurer-Deputy Clerk, at 705-636-5941.
- Use of Corporate Resources By-law
- Clerk’s Procedures and Vote By Internet/Telephone By-law
- Election Sign By-law
- MTO Election Sign Guidelines
- Acceptable Documents For Voter Identification
- 2026 Ontario Municipal Election Guides (Candidates, Third-Party Advertiser, Voters)
- Municipal Elections Act, 1996
- Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, 1990
- Municipal Act, 2001
- Association Municipalities of Ontario (AMO)
- Ontario Municipal Councillor’s Guide
- Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
There are many important dates that candidates should be aware, please see the list below:
Nomination Period: Friday, May 1, 2026 to Friday, August 21, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.
Nomination Day: Friday, August 21, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. **this date is also the deadline for withdrawal
Campaign Period: Friday, May 1, 2026 to Thursday, December 31, 2026
Voting Day: Monday, October 26, 2026
Term of Office: November 15, 2026 to November 14, 2030
Financial Filing Deadline: Tuesday, March 30, 2027
Mayor (One to be elected at large)
Councillors (Four to be elected at large)
School Board Trustees
English Public (Zone 5) (Township of Perry)Information Session Hosted by the Municipalities of the Almaguin Highlands
Municipal Council Candidates, or Potential Candidates interested in running in the 2026 Municipal Election are invited to attend a FREE Candidate Information Session hosted by the Municipalities of the Almaguin Highlands on Thursday, April 16, 2026 from 6:00pm - 8:00pm at the Armour, Ryerson & Burks Falls Memorial Arena.This session will present information on the Nomination Process, Financial Filing, Campaign Period, the Duties and Responsibilities of Candidates, and more!
Thinking of Running for Local Council in 2026?
The Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) has published "Lead Where You Live", a guide to running for municipal council. This guide will introduce you to some of the key steps in that process and it will also give you a sense of what life is like as an elected member of a municipal council.Check out AMO's Healthy Democracy Leadership Series: Stronger Leaders, Stronger Communities - a free online workshop to help you get ready!
Whether you're a current elected official or someone considering a first-time run, this workshop will give you the tools and confidence to lead your community.
It's free to join! Learn more and register at: https://www.amo.on.ca/healthy-democracy/amos-healthy-democracy-leadership-series-supporting-local-leadership-run-2026.
2026 Voter Information
Who May Vote
Any person who on election day (Monday, October 26, 2026) meets the following qualifications is eligible to vote:
- Is a Canadian citizen;
- Is at least 18 years old on election day;
- Resides in the municipality or is the owner or tenant of land in the local municipality, or the spouse of such a person (non-residential commercial or industrial property electors are not entitled to vote for school board trustees, but are entitled to vote for other municipal offices or questions);
- Not prohibited by law from voting.
Acceptable Documents For Voter Identification
Contribution Limits
Any person who is a resident of Ontario can make a contribution to a candidate’s campaign or contribute to a third-party advertiser to help fund their advertisements.
You may contribute a maximum of $1,200 to a single candidate. You may also contribute a maximum of $1,200 to a third-party advertiser. These amounts include the value of any goods or services donated to the campaign. You may not contribute more than $5,000 in total to candidates running for offices on the same council or school board, or to third party advertisers who are registered in the same municipality. If you buy a ticket to a candidate’s or third-party advertiser’s fundraiser, the cost of the ticket is a contribution.
If you want to contribute to a candidate or third-party advertiser, you should make sure that you know what the contribution limits are and keep track of your donations to ensure that you don’t end up giving more than is permitted.
Groups, such as neighbourhood associations and clubs, or professional associations, such as fire or police associations, are not eligible to make financial contributions to candidates or third-party advertisers. Members may contribute individually.
More information on contribution rules, view the Ontario Voter’s Guide.
Now you can register once to vote in both provincial and local elections. Visit RegisterToVoteON.ca for information on eligibility, registration, and how to confirm, update, or add yourself to the Register.
The Township of Perry is using the Telephone/Internet method of voting for the 2026 Municipal Election.
Voter Information Letters will be mailed to electors during the week of September 22, 2026. Eligible voters shall be required to telephone a designated number or access a designated internet address and cast their vote. Every eligible elector shall be limited to only one vote through the use of a PIN distributed within your personalized Voter Information Letter. Once the PIN has been used to complete all assigned races associated with the election it cannot be used again, and further access shall not be granted to the Telephone/Internet Voting service to vote again. Voting will commence at 10:00 am on Friday, October 16, 2026, and will remain open until 8:00 pm on Monday, October 26, 2026.
If you do not receive your voter information letter, need be added to the voter list, or for more information on the 2026 Municipal Election, contact the Township Office by email, telephone, in-person during regular business hours.
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.
To be accurately listed on Elections Ontario’s Preliminary List of Electors for the next municipal and school board election on October 26, 2026, your school support designation should be reviewed and, if needed, updated by June 1, 2026. For more information, or to change your school support designation, visit: www.mpac.ca/en/MakingChangesUpdates/SchoolSupportDesignation.