Municipal Election

• 2026 Key Dates

2025-04-16 2026 Municipal and School Board Election - Alternative Voting Method Recommendation Report

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Helpful information pertaining to the 2026 Municipal and School Board Election will be published below as it becomes available:

• Municipal Elections Act, 1996
• Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing - Municipal Elections
• e-laws Ontario

On May 29, 2024, following a Council Composition and Ward Boundary Review, Council approved a revised three-ward boundary model. Subsequently, By-law 84-2024 was enacted on December 4, 2024, formally establishing the new boundaries. These changes will come into effect for the 2026 Municipal and School Board Election.

The full report can be viewed here. 

Updated ward maps:

• Town Wide
• Ward One
• Ward Two
• Ward Three 

To make sure you are on the municipal and provincial voters' list, visit the Elections Ontario Website. 

*New for 2026* Alternative Voting Method: Online/Internet Voting

For the 2026 Municipal and School Board Election, the Town of Pelham will be offering online (internet) voting as an alternative voting method.

• Internet voting will be available to all eligible electors during an advance voting period.
• In-person advance voting opportunities will also be available during an advance voting period.
• On Voting Day (October 26, 2026), voting will be limited to in-person only.

This alternative method allows electors to cast their ballot from anywhere, at any time, during the prescribed online voting period.

Further details about the online voting process will be posted as they become available. Access information will be distributed directly to all electors. No pre-registration or notification will be required to use this method.

• Mayor 
• Regional Councillor 
• Councillors (two to be elected in each of the three wards) 
• School Board Trustees:
  • English Public and English Catholic
  • French Public and French Catholic 

Nomination forms will be made available in Spring 2026 (or earlier, once released by the Province).

Who Can Be a Candidate?

You are qualified to be elected or to hold office as Mayor, Ward Councillor, Regional Councillor or School Board Trustee if, on the day your nomination paper is filed, you are:

• At least 18 years of age;
• A Canadian citizen;
• A resident of the Town of Pelham, or an owner/tenant of land in the Town of Pelham, or the spouse of such an owner or tenant.

You are not eligible if you are:

• Not a Canadian citizen;
• Under 18 years old; 
• Not an elector in the municipality;
• An employee of the municipality (see below);
• A judge of any court;
• An MP, MPP, or Senator (must resign before nomination day if you wish to run);
• Serving a sentence of imprisonment in a penal or correctional institution;
• Disqualified due to violations under the Municipal Elections Act or Municipal Conflict of Interest Act.

Town Employees Seeking Office

• Employees of the Town of Pelham or its local boards must take an unpaid leave of absence beginning on the day they are nominated and lasting until Voting Day;
• Documentation showing the effective date of the leave must be filed with the nomination paper;
• Employees elected to office must resign their position.

Filing Fees

As set out under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, the following nomination filing fees apply:

• Mayor – $200.00
• Ward Councillor – $100.00
• Pelham Regional Councillor – $100.00
• School Board Trustee – $100.00

Payment Methods

Filing fees must be paid by cash, certified cheque, debit card, or money order, made payable to the Town of Pelham.

School Board Trustee Nomination Filing Locations:

• English Public Trustee: Nominations filed with the City of Thorold Clerk’s Office – $100.00
• English Catholic Trustee: Nominations filed with the Town of Grimsby Clerk’s Office – $100.00
• French Public Trustee and French Catholic Trustee: Nominations filed with the City of Welland Clerk’s Office – $100.00

Withdrawal of Nomination

If a candidate chooses to withdraw their nomination for office, the following steps are required:

• File in person: Complete and submit a written Withdrawal of Nomination form with the Town Clerk.
• Provide identification: Proof of identity must be shown at the time of filing. 
• File a financial statement: Even if you withdraw, a financial statement must still be submitted by the prescribed deadline. 
• Deadline to withdraw: Friday, August 21, 2026, between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

Reasons a Nomination May be Rejected 

Prior to 4:00 p.m. on August 24, 2026 (the Monday following Nomination Day), the Town Clerk is required to review and examine all nomination papers filed.

• If the nomination meets the requirements of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, the Clerk will certify the nomination.
• If the nomination does not meet the requirements, the Clerk must reject it. Written notice will be provided to the individual who filed the nomination and to all other candidates for that office. The Clerk’s decision to reject a nomination is final.

Grounds for Rejection

A nomination may be rejected for the following reasons:

• The candidate refuses or fails to provide proof of qualifications or acceptable identification to the Town Clerk.
• The candidate does not meet the eligibility requirements under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996.
• The nomination form is incomplete or the required filing fee has not been paid.
• The candidate failed to file the necessary financial statement in a previous municipal election or by-election.

As forms are released, they will be posted below for ease of access.

• Form 1 - Nomination Paper
• Form 2 - Endorsement of Nomination
  • It is recommended that each candidate exceed 25 signatures to ensure that all meet the necessary requirements.
• Form 4 - Financial Statement of Auditors Report - Candidate
• Form 5 - Financial Statement - Subsequent Expenses 
• Form 6 - Notice of Extension of Campaign Period
• Declaration of Qualifications - Council Member
• Declaration of Qualifications - School Board Candidate 

Troubleshooting PDF Forms 

If you experience issues opening a form in a web browser (e.g., Chrome), please follow these steps:

• Locate the form on the Ontario Central Forms Repository.
• Right-click the form and select “Save link as” to save it to your desktop.
• Open the saved form directly with Adobe Acrobat Reader (do not double-click to open in a browser).
• Complete the form, save your data, and close it.
• Reopen the file in Adobe Reader to confirm that your information 

As information and resources become available, they will be posted below:

• S201-11 – Use of Corporate Resources for Election Purposes
• Election Sign By-law 3987 (2018)

  • Please note: This by-law is currently under review and is likely to be repealed and replaced prior to the 2026 Election. Please check back for updates.

• Niagara Region Sign By-law 122-2013

The Municipal Elections Act, 1996, sets out specific rules for third party advertising.

A third party advertisement is any ad that promotes, supports, or opposes a candidate during an election.

A third party advertiser is the individual, corporation, or trade union that is responsible for creating, registering, and paying for the advertisement. Third party advertisers must identify themselves on all advertisements and comply with the rules and spending limits outlined in the Act.

If an individual, corporation, or trade union plans to spend money on such advertisements or related materials between May 1, 2026, and Voting Day, they must register as a third party advertiser with the Clerk before beginning any advertising.

Registration Period

The registration period for third party advertisers for the 2026 Municipal and School Board Election is May 1, 2026, to October 23, 2026.

Registration must be filed in person at the Clerk's Office:
20 Pelham Town Square, Fonthill
Appointments are preferred.

Important: Third party advertisers may not spend money, accept contributions, or begin advertising until the Clerk has certified their registration.

Eligibility to Register as a Third Party Advertiser 

You are eligible to register as a third party advertiser if you are:

• 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.

You are not eligible to register as a third party advertiser if you are:

• A candidate whose nomination has been filed under section 33 of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996;
• A federal political party registered under the Canada Elections Act, or any federal constituency association or registered candidate endorsed by that party;
• A provincial political party, constituency association, registered candidate, or leadership contestant registered under the Election Finances Act; or
• The Crown in right of Canada or Ontario, a municipality, or a local board.

Third party advertisers must clearly identify themselves and provide mandatory information on all advertising from May 1, 2026, until the close of voting on October 26, 2026.

All third party advertisements must include:

• Name of the registered third party advertiser;
• Municipality where the third party advertiser is registered; and
• Telephone number, mailing address, or email address where the registered third party advertiser can be contacted regarding the advertisement.

Additional Resources:

The following information on third party advertisers and their advertisements will be updated as it becomes available.

• Provincial Third Party Advertiser
• Town of Pelham Third Party Advertiser Guide
• Form 7 – Notice of Registration – Third Party
• Form 8 – Financial Statement Auditor’s Report – Third Party
• Third Party Advertiser Declaration of Qualifications

As forms are released, they will be posted below for ease of access.

• Form 7 - Notice of Registration - Third Party
• Form 8 - Financial Statement Auditors Report - Third Party
• Declaration of Qualifications - Third Party Advertiser

Troubleshooting PDF Forms 

If you experience issues opening a form in a web browser (e.g., Chrome), please follow these steps:

• Locate the form on the Ontario Central Forms Repository.
• Right-click the form and select “Save link as” to save it to your desktop.
• Open the saved form directly with Adobe Acrobat Reader (do not double-click to open in a browser).
• Complete the form, save your data, and close it.
• Reopen the file in Adobe Reader to confirm that your information