Municipal Elections
The next Municipal and School Board Election will be held on Monday, October 26, 2026.
For any questions regarding the 2026 Municipal Election, please contact the Municipal Clerk's Office by email, clerk@powassan.net or by phone at 705-724-2813 ext 224.
Ontario Candidates Guide
Association of Municipalities of Ontario's Become a Candidate
Association of Municipalities of Ontario Lead Where You Live
Nomination Period
The Nomination Period is May 1, 2026 to August 21, 2026.
Between May 1, 2026 and August 20, 2026, nomination papers can be filed during regular municipal office hours (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri)
On Nomination Day (August 21, 2026), nomination papers can be filed between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. On Nomination Day, candidates must make their presence known to the Municipal Clerk prior to 2:00 p.m. Nomination papers will not be accepted after the deadline. An appointment must be paid to file nomination papers.
See the NOTICE OF NOMINATION FOR OFFICE.
Nominations
Nomination Form (Form 1)
Financial Statement - Auditor's Report Candidate (Form 4)
EL18(a) - Declaration of Qualification - Municipal Council Candidates
Nomination papers must be signed by the candidate and filed in person or by an agent (no fax or email).
Potential candidates are required to make an appointment with the Municipal Clerk to ensure availability to receive the nomination. Please call 705-724-2813 ext. 224 to make an appointment to file your nomination paper.
Nominations may be made by completing and filing nominations on the prescribed form and accompanied by the Declaration of Qualification in the Municipal Clerk's Office, including acceptable identification (must be valid and contain the candidate's name, qualifying address and signature), the prescribed nomination filing fee ($200 for the Office of Mayor, $100 for all other offices), and such other documentation as required for the filing process. The filing fee is payable by cash, debit, certified cheque, bank draft or money order payable to the Municipality of Powassan.
A candidate is entitled to receive a refund of the nomination filing fee if they file the documents under s.88.25(1) - the financial statements and auditors report, on or before 2:00 p.m. on the filing date. In the case of the 2026 regular election, the filing date is Tuesday, March 30, 2027 for the reporting period ending December 31, 2026.
If, after having filed a nomination form, a candidate wishes to file a nomination for a different office in the same election, the first nomination shall be deemed to have been withdrawn at the time the second nomination is filed. The 25 signatures endorsing the candidate's nomination may be transferred. The filing fee is deemed to have been paid with the latest filing if the two nominations are for the same council/board unless changing offices.
If a greater number of candidates are certified than are required to fill the said office, there will be an election. If the number of nominations for an office is less than the number of candidates to be elected an additional Notice of Nomination will be advertised on the website only and additional nominations may be filed between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on the Monday following Nomination Day (August 24, 2026).
Qualification and Disqualification
You qualify to be elected or hold office if, as of the day you file your nomination, you:
- are entitled to be an elector under Municipal Elections Act (s.17)
- are a Canadian citizen;
- are at least 18 years of age;
- reside in the local municipality, or is the owner or tenant of land in the local municipality, or the spouse of such a person;
- are not prohibited from voting as noted or otherwise, by law;
- are not disqualified for violation of financial requirements or violations of requirements for filing financial information;
- are not disqualified by any Act from holding such office; and
- are not disqualified under the provisions as outlined in MEA s.90(2) and 91(1).
The following persons are disqualified for Mayoral or Councillor candidacy:
- Except in accordance with MEA, s.30 (Leave of Absence), an employee of the municipality or a person who is not an employed of the municipality, but who is the Clerk, Treasurer, Integrity Commissioner, Auditor General, Ombudsman or registrar referred to in s.223.11 of the Municipal Act or an investigator referred to in s.239.2(1) of the municipality or a person who is not an employee of the municipality, but who holds any administrative position of the municipality.
- A judge of any court.
- A Senator, a Member of Parliament, a Member of Provincial Parliament.
- A person who is serving a sentence of imprisonment in a penal or correctional institution, including a sentence being served in the evening or on weekends (this does not include a person serving a sentence at home).
- A corporation.
- A person acting as executor or trustee or in any other representative capacity.
- A person who was convicted of the corrupt practices described in MEA, s.90(3) if Voting Day in the current election is less than 5 years after Voting Day in the election in respect of which he or she was convicted.
- A person disqualified for violations of financial requirements or violations of requirements for filing financial information.
The following persons are disqualified for School Board Trustee candidacy:
- An employee of any district school board or school authority, except as provided in MEA s.30 (Leave of Absence), unless he or she takes an unpaid leave of absence, beginning no later than the day the person is nominated and ending on Voting Day.
- A Clerk, Treasurer, Deputy Clerk or Deputy Treasurer of a municipality or an upper-tier municipality, all or part of which is included in the are of jurisdiction of the district Board or school Authority unless he or she takes an unpaid leave of absence, beginning no later than the day the person is nominated and ending on Voting Day.
- A Senator, Member of Parliament, a Member of Provincial Parliament.
An inmate of a penal or correctional institution under sentence of imprisonment including a sentence being served in the evening or on weekends (this does not include persons serving house arrest).
A corporation.
- A person acting as executor or trustee or in any other representative capacity.
- A person who was convicted of the corrupt practice described in MEA, s.90(3) if Voting Day in the current election is less than 5 years after Voting Day in the election in respect of which he or she was convicted.
- A person disqualified for violations of financial requirements or violations of requirements for filing financial information.
- Otherwise ineligible or disqualified under the Education Act or any other Act.
Withdrawal of Nomination
If a candidate wishes to withdraw completely, the candidate must file a written withdrawal of their candidacy by no later than 2:00 p.m. on August 21, 2026 (Nomination Day) in the Municipal Clerk's Office at 250 Clark Street.
Any withdrawals sent by mail, email or fax are not permitted; all withdrawals must be filed in person in the Clerk's Office at 250 Clark Streetl.
Examination of Nominations
Prior to 4:00 p.m. on the Monday following Nomination Day (August 21, 2026) the Municipal Clerk shall examine each nomination filed and if satisfied the person is qualified to be nominated and that the nomination complies with the Act, the Clerk shall certify as such on the nomination filed.
If not satisfied, the Clerk shall reject the nomination and as soon as possible, give notice to the person who sought to be nominated and all other candidates for that office.
The Clerk's decision to certify or reject a nomination is final. Under the Municipal Elections Act (MEA), the Clerk is required to reject or certify nominations of candidates. The Clerk may wish to consider the following criteria in their decision to reject or clarify individual nominations:
- Candidate has refused or declined to provide proof of identification suitable to the Municipal Clerk;
- Candidate does not satisfy the requirements set out in MEA, s.29(1) (eligibility requirements);
- The nomination form is incomplete;
- The prescribed filing fee has not been paid; and
- The necessary financial disclosure was not filed for the previous election or any by-election in which the individual may have been a candidate.
Voter Information
Voters list and 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:
- Have 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 or Voters List
Register today by visiting RegisterToVoteON.ca or call 1-866-242-3025.
2026 Voters' Guide
The Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing prepares a Voters' Guide for each election. The Voters' Guide provides information to voters for the 2026 municipal council and school board elections. Find out who is eligible to vote, how to vote and how you can support candidates in Ontario municipal council and school board elections. The information also applies to any by-elections that may be held during the 2026-2030 council and school board term.
2026 Voter's Guide
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 website.