October 26, 2026

2026 Municipal Election

Discover official resources for voters and candidates, all in one place.

Next Term of Council: November 15, 2026 - November 14, 2030

Welcome to the Muskoka Lakes Election Hub

Voter Information

Register to Vote

Are you registered to vote with Elections Ontario?

Access the online tool here to update your information for both municipal and provincial elections.

*A new tab will open to registertovoteon.ca

Voter Eligibility

There are three ways that can qualify you to vote in a municipality:

  1. A Resident Elector 
  2. A non-resident elector 
  3. A spouse of a non-resident elector

Click here for more voter information.

Find My Ward

Locate your ward and review the candidates eligible for your ballot.

*A new tab will open to muskoka.maps.arcgis.com

Identification

Click here for the list of accepted ID for voting. 

School Support Designation

Designate the school board you would like to vote for. 

If updating, confirm with MPAC before June 1, 2026.

Candidate Information

Nominations open on May 1, and close August 21 at 2:00 p.m. EST. 

To confirm nomination, candidates are required to follow these steps:

Step 1:
Obtain 25 endorsement signatures prior to submission of their nomination

Step 2:
Schedule an appointment with the Clerks department to file their nomination

Step 3:
Pay a fee of $100 for a councillor or $200 for head of council 

Candidate Information & Eligibility

Click here to view the eligibility checklist.

Candidate Resources & Forms

Explore helpful resources and essential forms.

Candidate Information Session

Thursday, April 30, 2026
6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
70 Pine St., Bracebridge, ON (District of Muskoka Council Chambers)

Schedule an Appointment

Call 705-765-3156 or email the Clerk by clicking here.

*A new tab will open to your email. 

Discover More

Muskoka Compliance Audit Committee Election Accessibility Plan Past Election Results

Frequently Asked Questions

Councillors are elected using the first-past-the-post system.

Under this method, voters select one candidate for each position, and the candidate who receives the highest number of votes is elected.

Depending on the municipality, councillors may be elected by ward or through an at-large system.

Municipal elections in Ontario are held every four years on the fourth Monday of October. All municipal elected officials serve a four-year term. The current term began in 2022 and will conclude in 2026.

Unlike federal or provincial elections, municipal candidates in Ontario do not run under political party affiliations. Each candidate is elected independently to represent their community at the local level.

Voting will be available both online and over the telephone.

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

Muskoka Lakes Votes

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Contact & Support

For more information about municipal elections at the Township of Muskoka Lakes including historical election data, please contact:

Crystal Best-Sararas, Director of Legislative Services/Clerk

Telephone: 705 765-3156 Ext. 211
Fax: 705-765-6755
Email the Clerk

Cheryl Hollows, Manager of Legislative Services/Deputy Clerk 

Telephone: 705 765-3156 Ext. 212
Fax: 705-765-6755
Email the Deputy Clerk 

Township of Muskoka Lakes
1 Bailey St., P.O. Box 129,
Port Carling, ON, P0B 1J0

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