Municipal Elections

Municipal 101 Municipal Structures Municipal Elections Key Municipal Roles Ontario Municipalities

Knowing how municipal elections work in Ontario is important because it allows for better representation of local needs in decision making, better understanding of the impact of politics, and better shared enthusiasm within communities.  The next municipal election will be held Monday, October 26, 2026. 

How do municipal elections work?

Councillors are elected through the “first-past-the-post” system, meaning voters each choose one candidate for a position, and the candidate with the most votes is elected. They may be elected according to ward or “at-large”, depending on the municipality. 

When elected at-large, all councillors represent the entire municipality, and when municipalities are divided into wards, voters elect one or more councillors to represent their ward. In an at-large election, the voters choose among all candidates in the election. For example, if a council has eight (8) positions, the eight candidates with the highest number of votes win the election and become the new councillors.  

In counties, councils are generally composed of designated elected members from the lower-tier municipalities. The county council itself selects the warden from among its members.

In regions, the council chair is chosen by a vote of the members of council or directly elected. Other council members are selected either through election directly by voters or by appointment. Some are elected to serve on both regional and lower or single-tier council. In some municipalities, lower- and single-tier councils appoint members to serve at the regional level. Heads of council in lower and single tier municipalities in the region also serve on the regional council.

Upper-tier council compositions vary, but they all include the elected mayors from the lower-tier municipalities and sometimes additional councillors to account for the population of larger constituent lower-tier municipalities.

Participating in local elections is simple as both a voter and a candidate, and it contributes to strong local democracy. AMO’s Healthy Democracy Project promotes the importance of diversity of leadership and perspectives in municipal governments.


What do potential voters and candidates need to know?   

Elections for municipal government are held every four years on the fourth Monday of October. The length of term for all municipal elected officials is four years. The current term started in 2022 and ends in 2026. 

In municipal elections in Ontario, unlike other levels of government, candidates are not elected to represent a political party. 

Eligible voters for municipal elections must be: 

  • A Canadian citizen and at least 18 years old
  • A resident OR a property owner or tenant OR the spouse of an owner or tenant in the municipality

Eligible candidates for municipal elections must be:

  • A Canadian citizen and at least 18 years old 
  • A resident of the municipality, a non-resident owner or tenant of land in the municipality or the spouse of such non-resident owner or tenant
  • Not legally prohibited from voting; and not disqualified by any legislation from holding municipal office.

Candidates are also required to pay a fee of $100 ($200 for head of council) and those running in municipalities with more than 4,000 electors are also required to obtain 25 endorsement signatures when they submit their nomination.

To see the full Municipal Elections Rules and Guidelines, click here.

Who can vote in elections?

Anyone can vote in a municipal election who, on the day of the election, is: 

  • 18 years of age or older 
  • a Canadian citizen; and 
  • either a resident of the municipality or a property owner or tenant or the spouse or same sex partner of an owner or tenant in the municipality during a specified time just before the election.  

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

The voters’ list is prepared in several steps:

  • A preliminary list is created by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) based on data it keeps on home ownership and tenancy.
  • 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 in a regular election or by-election. You may have your name added to the voters’ list at the voting place. You may be asked to show identification to establish that you are eligible to vote. For more information about getting on the voters’ list, you should contact your municipal clerk.

Note: To ensure you are on the voters’ list for municipal and school board elections, you may also visit voterlookup.ca.
 

Who can be a candidate?

  • Candidate must be a resident of the municipality or a non-resident owner or tenant of land in the municipality or the spouse of such non-resident owner or tenant;
  • a Canadian citizen and at least 18 years old;
  • not legally prohibited from voting;  and not disqualified by any legislation from holding municipal office.
  • You will need 25 signatures on your nomination form and must pay a fee of $100 ($200 for mayor).

When you think about candidates for federal or provincial elections, you usually think about the political party that each candidate represents. In municipal elections in Ontario, candidates are not elected to represent a political party. 

Election Calendar

2021-2023 AMCTO Municipal Elections Calendar. This calendar represents AMCTO’s best efforts to capture key requirements and considerations for the upcoming planning for municipal election administrators. The calendar does not claim to be perfect and all items should be verified independently by the legislation/regulations or among peers. Please note this is archival material. 

Resources

 

Lead Where You Live: A guide on running for municipal council

Elected municipal leaders play a vital role in making sure that communities are healthy and successful, socially and economically. Councils shape priorities, ensure accountability to the public, and represent the people who elect them. They provide a democratic forum for diverse perspectives and experiences to be heard, so that better decisions are made and good governance is maintained. Having people with a variety of backgrounds and lived experiences on council helps the municipality better meet the needs of all residents and businesses.

If you are thinking of running for election in 2022, AMO's guide will introduce you to some of the key steps in that process. It will also give you a sense of what life is like as an elected member of a municipal council.

 

 

We all Win: Diversity on Council

We all Win: Diversity on Council

We all win identifier

 

We all win when there are more diverse voices at council.

When we have a diversity of genders and identities, ethnicities, sexual orientations, ages, races and abilities at municipal council, we can create more inclusive and sustainable communities.

To encourage more diversity in the upcoming 2022 municipal election, AMO has created this resource to share more about municipal government as well as supports available for those interested in running for municipal office.

Learn about the campaign.

 

On municipal council, you can use your experience and skills to make a positive impact and shape your community today and tomorrow. Meet just a few of the municipal officials who are the leading the way to creating more diverse Council tables.