Elections

September 1, 2026 – Voters’ List Reproduction and Revision Period Begins
Last day for reproducing the Voters’ List and determining the revision procedures. On written request, the Clerk shall provide copies of the Voters’ List to those referred to under subsection 23(3) of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996. On written request, the Clerk shall provide candidates with a copy of the part of the Voters’ List that contains the names of the electors who are entitled to vote for that office. From September 1 until the close of voting on Voting Day (8:00 p.m. on October 26), a person may submit an application to have their name added to or removed from the Voters’ List, or to have their information on the Voters’ List amended. From September 1 until the close of voting on Voting Day (October 26), a person may submit an application requesting that a deceased person’s name be removed from the voters’ list. For more information, please contact vote@northhuron.ca 

September 30, 2026 - Interim List of Changes to the Voters’ List
The Clerk shall prepare and distribute an interim list of the changes to Voters’ List that were approved between September 1 and September 20 on or before September 30, 2026.

October 13, 2026 - Voting Opens
Telephone and Internet voting will open. The Voter Help Centre will be available on the following days at the below dates and times: 
North Huron Township Office, 274 Josephine Street, Wingham:
•    Tuesday, October 13, 2026 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
•    Weekdays from Wednesday, October 14th to Friday, October 23rd during regular office hours (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)  Extended hours will be offered on Wednesday, October 21, 2026 until 7:00 p.m.
•    Monday, October 26, 2026 between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.

October 23, 2026 – Third Party Advertisers Registration Deadline
Last day for third party advertisers to file their notice of registration by 4:30p.m.

October 26, 2026 – Voting Day
Last day for voting. The Telephone and Internet voting polls will close for the 2026 Election at 8:00 p.m.

October 26, 2026 – Declaration of Election Results by the Clerk
As soon as possible, the Clerk will declare the results of the election. The results of the election will be calculated and released to the public as soon as possible after 8:00 p.m. at the North Huron Council Chambers (271 Frances Street, Wingham).

November 5, 2026 – Joint Council Orientation Session
The Clerk’s of Huron County are organizing a joint Council Orientation Session for new and returning Members of Council.

November 16, 2026 – Inaugural Meeting of Council
The Inaugural Meeting of Council for the 2026-2030 term of office will be held at 6:00 p.m. The new Council will take their oath of office, and be sworn in.

November 19-20, 2026 – North Huron-Specific Council Orientation Session
The 2026-2030 term Council Orientation Session for new and returning Members of Council has been scheduled for November 19th and 20th. 

December 31, 2026 – End of Election Campaign Period
The election campaign period ends. Contributions may not be made to or accepted by a Candidate or third party nor expenses incurred outside the campaign period.

March 30, 2027 – Deadline to File Financial Statement
Deadline for candidates and registered third parties to file their initial financial statements and auditor’s reports.

Certified Candidates may wish to view our Candidate Information Package. This Guide is only intended to provide candidates with general information on running for office. Candidates are responsible for ensuring they are familiar with the requirements of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, and should consult the Act for complete information and legislative requirements.

The Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing has also prepared a 2026 Candidates’ Guide - Ontario municipal council and school board elections. This guide provides information to candidates for the 2026 municipal and school board elections.

• A Candidates campaign period begins on the date that Nomination papers are filed with the Clerk
• A Candidates campaign period ends on December 31, 2026 unless the nomination is withdrawn, the candidate was not certified, or the campaign is extended to pay down a deficit.

• Candidates must open a bank account if they accept any contributions (including money from themselves) or incur any expenses.
• The Nomination fee is considered to be a personal expense, not a campaign expense.
• All contributions must be deposited into the campaign bank account. All expenses must be paid out from the same account.
• Inventory from previous campaigns (i.e. signs) used in the 2026 campaign, must be reported using the current market value as a contribution to their campaign.
• Likewise, reusable campaign materials must be valued and reported as closing inventory.
• If a candidate uses their credit card for purchases, they should make sure they keep clear, defendable records showing that the expense was reimbursed from the campaign account.
• The Clerk will calculate the maximum amount of campaign expenses that each candidate may incur and will provide a final "Certificate of Maximum Campaign Expenses - Candidates" form to the candidate on or before September 30, 2026.

Campaign Advertising & Signs - Refer to the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 - Section 88.3

• All election signs and campaign advertisements, including third party advertising must adhere to the provisions of the Township of North Huron Election Sign By-law (By-law No. 29-2026).
• No person shall Place or permit to be Placed an Election Sign on or in a Voting Place or Public Property. Election campaigning or the distribution or posting of election campaign material at municipally owned property or leased facilities is not permitted. No person shall display on any Election Sign a logo, trademark or official mark, in whole or in part, owned or licensed by the Municipality.
• All election signs, banners, or posters shall be removed within seventy-two hours after the polls close on Election Day.
• Election signs or similar campaign material that will be installed or affixed to the Ministry of Transportation road system or the County of Huron road system will require the permission of these respective approval authorities.
• The Municipality or any of its municipal servants, employees or agents will not be responsible for investigating or prosecuting for any acts of vandalism to the posters or campaign material of the candidates.

For a full list of election sign and campaign advertising provisions, please refer to the Township of North Huron Election Sign By-law (By-law No. 29-2026). 

All candidates must adhere to the provisions of the Township of North Huron Use of Corporate Resources During an Election Policy (By-law No. 24-2026). 

No Candidate shall use the facilities, equipment, supplies, services, Staff or other resources of the Township (including Council newsletters and Council budgets) for any election campaign purpose or campaign related activities. 

No Candidate shall undertake any election campaign or campaign related activities on Township property during regular working hours or during meetings. 

No sitting member of Council shall use any equipment provided by the Township for any election campaign purpose or campaign-related activities. 

No Candidate or sitting member of Council shall use the services of Staff during hours in which those Staff received any compensation from the Township, for any election campaign purpose or campaign related activities. 

For a full list of the corporate resources related provisions, please refer to the Township of North Huron Use of Corporate Resources During an Election Policy (By-law No. 24-2026). 

A person is entitled to vote in a municipal election if he or she on Voting Day:  

• resides in the local municipality, or is the owner or tenant of land in the municipality, or the spouse of such owner or tenant; and
• is a Canadian citizen, and
• is at least 18 years old, and
• is not prohibited from voting under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 or otherwise prohibited by law.

Your name must be on the Voters’ List in order for you to cast a ballot.

Find out who is eligible to vote, how to vote and how you can support candidates by viewing the 2026 Voters Guide. 

For more information on how to vote in the Township of North Huron, please view our: Voter Information Package. This Guide is only intended to provide electors with general information on voting in the municipality. Voters are responsible for ensuring they are familiar with the requirements of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 and should consult the Act for complete information and legislative requirements.

The Voters’ List is prepared in several steps:
A preliminary list is created by Elections Ontario based on data they have from previous elections and data from other organizations, such as the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) which provides data it keeps on home ownership. 

The preliminary list is sent to the Municipal Clerk after a by-election has been called or in advance of a regular election which occurs every 4 years. The Clerk can correct any errors on the list, and the corrected list then becomes the Voters’ List.

If you are not on the Voters’ List, or if your information is incorrect (for example, you have moved and may be listed at a former address), you may apply to have your name added or your information corrected. This may be done until the close of voting on Voting Day (October 26, 2026 at 8:00p.m.). You may have your name added to the Voters’ List at a Voter Help Centre. You may be asked to show identification to establish that you are eligible to vote. For more information about getting on the Voters’ List, please contact vote@northhuron.ca  

The voting period will be from Tuesday, October 13, 2026 (9:00 a.m.) until Voting Day on October 26, 2022 (8:00 p.m.)

On Tuesday, February 18, 2025, the Council of the Township of North Huron adopted By-Law No. 14-2025  authorizing the use of an alternative voting method, that being the Telephone/Internet Voting method. This same platform was used in the 2018 and 2022 Municipal Elections.

Each eligible voter will receive, by mail, a Voter Information Letter that will detail the races they are eligible to vote for as well as the link to login and a telephone number to call in, so they may choose their method to cast their vote. The letter also details a Personal Identification Number, as well as information on how to get assistance.

These alternative voting methods will be available for all eligible voters during voting period. During the voting period, voters will be able to cast their vote remotely using their own devices (i.e., laptop, smart phone, or tablet) in the comfort of their own home, at a time that most suits their schedule. If access to a telephone or internet connection is unavailable to you, a Voter Help Centre will be provided with internet access during the voting period. In North Huron, the Voter Help Centre will be available on the following days at the below dates and times:

North Huron Township Office, 274 Josephine Street, Wingham:

• Tuesday, October 13, 2026 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Weekdays from Wednesday, October 14th to Friday, October 23rd during regular office hours (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)  
  • Extended hours will be offered on Wednesday, October 21, 2026 until 7:00 p.m.
• Monday, October 26, 2026 between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. 

The following video demonstrates the voting process for the 2026 Township of North Huron Municipal and School Board elections. The video provides a step by step walkthrough on how voters can cast their vote through either internet or telephone. 

A third party advertisement is an ad that supports, promotes or opposes a candidate or a “yes” or “no” answer to a question on the ballot.

Third party in this context means a person or entity who is not a candidate. Third party advertising is separate from any candidate’s campaign and must be done independently from a candidate. Third party advertisers who wish to spend money on advertisements during the election must register with the Municipal Clerk and must file a financial statement.

A Third Party Advertiser means an individual who is normally resident in Ontario, a corporation that carries on business in Ontario or a trade union that holds bargaining rights for employees in Ontario, and whose Notice of Registration to be a Registered Third Party Advertiser submitted on the prescribed form has been filed with and certified by the Clerk.

The following are eligible to register as a third party advertiser:
•    any person who is a resident of Ontario
•    a corporation carrying on business in Ontario
•    a trade union that holds bargaining rights for employees in Ontario

Groups or businesses that are not corporations cannot register as third party advertisers. Candidates cannot register as third party advertisers.

Only registered third party advertisers may spend money on advertisements supporting, promoting or opposing candidates or answers to a question on the ballot during the municipal election.

An individual, corporation or trade union must register with the Municipal Clerk to be a third party advertiser in the Township of North Huron. Third parties can register in any lower-tier or single-tier municipality (city, town, township, etc.)

Being registered in a municipality allows the third party to advertise to the voters in that municipality. A third party advertiser can support or oppose any candidate or candidates who will be voted on by the electors in that municipality. This includes candidates running for local council, school board trustee and candidates running for offices on an upper tier council.

Third party advertisers do not need to decide before they register which candidate or candidates they want to support or oppose, and they do not have to tell the Clerk what their intentions are.

A third party can only advertise to voters in the municipality where they are registered. There is no limit on the number of municipalities where a third party can register. If a third party wants to advertise to voters in more than one municipality they must register in each municipality where they wish to advertise.

All Third Party Advertisements shall contain the following information:

1. the name of the registered third party;
2. the municipality where the registered third party is registered; and
3. a telephone number, mailing address or email address at which the registered third party may be contacted regarding the advertisement.

The Notice for Registration – Third Party PR FORM 7 may be filed with the Clerk from May 1, 2026 to and October 23, 2026 during regular business hours.
The form shall be filed in the following manner:

• in person or by an agent
• no faxed or other electronically transmitted registration notices will be accepted – original signatures required
• with proof of identity as prescribed in O. Reg. 304/13, as amended
• with the declaration of qualifications Form TI15, signed by the individual or by a representative of the corporation or trade union
• with the Notice of Collection/Consent to Release Personal Information for Third Party Advertisers
• a resolution from the corporation or trade union that authorizes the person or agent to register on their behalf, if applicable.
• With proof that the trade union or Corporation exists and is acting in Ontario. 

2026 Municipal Election Third Party Advertiser Registration Package
 
A paper copy of the 2026 2026 Municipal Election Third Party Advertiser Registration Package is available from the Clerk’s Department. It is strongly recommended that third party advertisers wait to sign these forms during their meeting with the Clerk. To make an appointment to meet with the Clerk, please contact 519-357-3550 ext. 100. or vote@northhuron.ca  

The Township of North Huron is committed to ensuring that persons with disabilities have an opportunity to fully participate in the Municipal Election with dignity and in a consistent manner with all North Huron electors. North Huron's Election Accessibility Plan ensures that candidates and electors with disabilities have full and equal access to all election information and services, including the Voter Help Centre. The Election Accessibility Plan sets forth the processes for ensuring this commitment is successfully achieved.

Staff are available throughout the election to assist with any issues that may arise with respect to providing a barrier-free election. For assistance, please contact the North Huron Elections Team at vote@northhuron.ca or 519-357-3550 ext. 100.

Feedback is also encouraged and any feedback received will be reviewed by the Clerk and appropriate action will be taken to remove barriers or provide accommodation, if necessary. Feedback can be provided by submitting the Accessible Customer Service Feedback Form to vote@northhuron.ca or in-person at the North Huron Municipal Office.