Municipal Elections: Frequently Asked Questions

Voting Period

The voting period for the 2026 Municipal Elections will be open from: 

Wednesday, October 14th at 10:00 a.m. EST to Monday, October 26 at 8:00 p.m. EST.

Voting Methods

Voting will be conducted by Internet & Telephone. 

The voting link and phone number will be available at the start of the voting period at: muskokalakes.ca/2026-elections

Please Note: In-person voting is available at the Township Office using designated voting computers. Voters may access this service during regular business hours (Monday to Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) and on Election Day, October 26, until 8:00 p.m. Township staff will be available to assist voters with the voting process if needed.

There are three ways you can qualify as an elector:

• Resident Elector: Lives in the municipality and considers it their permanent home.
• Non-Resident Elector: Lives outside the municipality but owns or rents property here. Proof of ownership or tenancy may be required.
• Spouse of a Non-Resident Elector: Is the spouse or same-sex partner of a non-resident property owner or tenant.

Please Note: If the property is owned by a business or a trust, you would not qualify as a non-resident elector.

If you are unsure whether you qualify as a non-resident elector, contact the Clerk for clarification.

Visit www.registertovoteon.ca to check, update or add your information to the voters list for municipal, district social services administration board, school board and provincial elections in Ontario.

All electors are required to provide proof of identity and qualifying address when voting. Frequently used forms of identification include:

• An Ontario driver's licence
• An Ontario Photo Card

For more options, visit: Voter Information, Eligibility & Identification

Muskoka Lakes is divided into three wards. Find your ward here: Find My Ward

Then discover the List of Candidates.

A person is eligible to be a candidate if they are:

• Are a Canadian citizen
• Are 18 years of age or older
• 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

For the eligibility checklist, visit: Candidate Information, Eligibility & Nominations

Candidates may file nomination papers from Friday, May 1 to Friday, August 21, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.

To confirm nomination, candidates are required to: 

1. Obtain 25 endorsement signatures prior to submission of their nomination
2. Schedule an appointment with the Clerks department to file their nomination
3. Pay a fee of $100 for a councillor or $200 for head of council

Nominations must be filed in person BY APPOINTMENT ONLY with the Clerk during regular business hours (Monday to Friday 8:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. excluding Statutory holidays). To book an appointment, please email clerks@muskokalakes.ca 

An informational guide, forms and additional requirements have been added to the Candidate Resources & Forms section.

Explore additional helpful resources for first-time and seasoned councillors:  

• 2026 Candidates Guide (Province of Ontario)
• Municipal Councillor’s Guide (Province of Ontario)
• Election Resources: Supporting your Run for Municipal Office in 2026 (AMO)

The term of office for members of municipal council and school board trustees is four years. Candidates elected in the 2026 Municipal Election will serve from November 15, 2026, to November 14, 2030, in accordance with the Municipal Elections Act, 1996.

Elected officials are responsible for representing the interests of the community, participating in council or board meetings, and making decisions on matters affecting the municipality throughout their term.

A Third Party Advertiser is an individual, corporation, or trade union that registers to promote, support, or oppose:

• A candidate; or
• A “yes” or “no” response to a ballot question

through advertisements in print, broadcast, electronic, or other media.

Before participating, third-party advertisers must register with the Clerk. Find registration steps here: Third-Party Advertising

Eligible third party advertisers include:

• Individuals normally resident in Ontario
• Corporations carrying on business in Ontario
• Trade unions holding bargaining rights in Ontario

Registrations may be filed between:

• May 1, 2026 and
• October 23, 2026 at 4:30 p.m.

Registrations must be filed in person BY APPOINTMENT ONLY with the Clerk during regular business hours (Monday to Friday 8:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. excluding Statutory holidays). The deadline to register or withdraw is October 23, 2026. Third party registrations will not be accepted after the deadline.

The filing package can be found online here: Third-Party Advertising

Printed forms are available at the Township Office upon request (1 Bailey St., Port Carling).

To book an appointment, please email clerks@muskokalakes.ca 

Please Note: All registered third-party advertisers must file a financial statement, even if they did not raise or spend much. This is due by March 30, 2027 at 2 p.m.

No. Third party advertisers must register and have their registration certified by the Clerk before:

• Incurring expenses;
• Accepting contributions; or
• Beginning advertising activities.

To register, please visit: Third-Party Advertising

All third party advertisements must contain:

• The name of the registered third party advertiser;
• The municipality where they are registered; and
• Contact information for the advertiser.

No. Third party advertising must operate independently and cannot be conducted under the direction of a candidate.

You can only advertise to voters in the municipality where you are registered. If you want to advertise in more than one municipality, you must register in each one.

Ads can be placed in any medium: broadcast, print, digital

The spending limit is based on the number of eligible electors in the municipality: $5,000 plus $0.05 per elector, up to a maximum of $25,000.

If your campaign expenses or contributions total more than $10,000, your financial statement must be reviewed by an auditor.

After the campaign ends, close the campaign bank account and file your financial statement by the deadline.

You can only accept contributions after registering. Ontario’s guide says the general contribution limit is $1,200 per contributor, and corporations and trade unions may contribute to third-party advertisers, including goods and services.

Yes. Registered third-party advertisers must file the required financial statement with the Clerk by the deadline of March 30, 2027 at 2 p.m.

The Election Compliance Audit Committee is a legislated committee established under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996.

The Committee:

• Reviews applications requesting audits of candidate or third party advertiser campaign finances;
• Determines whether audits should proceed; and
• Considers reports from auditors and potential legal proceedings.

For more information or ways to get involved, visit: Muskoka Compliance Audit Committee

The Township of Muskoka Lakes is committed to conducting an election accessible for all voters.

The Election Accessibility Plan outlines measures to:

• Remove barriers to voting;
• Provide accessible voting locations and materials;
• Support voters with disabilities; and
• Meet obligations under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

To access the 2026 Election Accessibility Plan, visit: Election Accessibility Plan

Past municipal election results for Muskoka Lakes can be found here: Past Election Results & Financial Statements

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