2026 Municipal Election

Your name must be on the voters’ list for you to cast a ballot. Call us at 613-382-2149 X 1120 or send us an email to elections@gananoque.ca to see if you are on the list.

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
• You qualify to vote in the Town of Gananoque.

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

• As a resident elector if you live in the municipality. You may own, rent, live in shared accommodation where you do not pay rent or live in the municipality but do not have a fixed address. Being a resident elector is the most common type of eligibility.
   
• As a non-resident elector if you own or rent property in a municipality, but it’s not the one where you live. You can only be a resident elector in one municipality. However, you can be a non-resident elector in any other municipality (or municipalities) where you own or rent property. 
   
• As the spouse of a non-resident elector if your spouse owns or rents property in the municipality or municipalities other than the one where you live. If your spouse qualifies as a non-resident elector in a municipality, then you can also vote in that municipality’s election. Neither you nor your spouse qualify as a non-resident elector if you do not personally own or rent the property in the municipality. For example, if the property is owned by your business or your cottage is owned by a trust, you would not qualify as a non-resident elector.
   
• If you are eligible to vote in a municipality because you are the owner or tenant (or spouse of an owner or tenant) of commercial property, you are not eligible to vote for a school trustee.

Students

There is a special rule for students who may be living away from home while they attend school. If you are a student and consider your “home” to be the place where you live when you are not attending school (i.e. you plan on returning there), then you are eligible to vote in both your “home” municipality and in the municipality where you currently live while attending school.
 

Voting in more than one municipality

If you qualify to vote in more than one municipality, you can vote in all of those municipal elections. For example, if you qualify as a resident elector in one municipality, and a non-resident elector in three other municipalities, you can vote in all four of those municipal elections.
 

Wards
The Town of Gananoque does not have a Ward System. All Council candidates are running at large.

The Town of Gananoque electors will be able to cast their vote in the Municipal and School Board Elections from anywhere with internet access or telephone service. This means eligible voters will have the ability to vote from the comfort of their own home, on the go, and at voting locations on select dates. There are NO paper ballots.

Eligible electors will receive a Voter Information Letter (VIL) by mail at the end of September or early October. Please keep this letter in a safe spot. You need it to vote!

The VIL is only intended for the person it is addressed to. If you are not an eligible elector and receive a letter, please contact the election help line at 613-382-2149 Ext. 1120 and speak to an election official or return the letter, unopened, to Town Hall, 30 King Street East, Gananoque, ON K7G 1E9.

The Voter Information Letter will contain all information required for you to use the Internet or Telephone to cast your vote. It will also include a specific PIN – Personal Identification Number, that is specific to the elector. Do not share your PIN.

Please follow the instructions on your Voter Information Letter carefully.

Watch the How to Vote Video for more information on how to vote by Internet or Telephone.

For election related assistance, please call us at 613-382-2149 X 1120 or send an email to elections@gananoque.ca.

The Voter Helpline is available, as follows:

Monday, October 19 – 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Tuesday, October 20 to Friday, October 23, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Saturday, October 24 and Sunday October 25, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Monday, October 26, 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM

If you need assistance with voting or require a Voter Information Letter (VIL), please visit the Town Hall, 30 King Street East, Gananoque, during the following dates and times:

Monday, October 19 – 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Tuesday, October 20 to Friday, October 23 – 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Saturday, October 24 and Sunday October 25 – 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Monday, October 26 – 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM

Accepted Voter Identification (Municipal Elections Act, 1996 – O. Reg. 304/13)

1.      An Ontario driver’s licence.

2.      An Ontario Health Card (photo card).

3.      An Ontario Photo Card.

4.      An Ontario motor vehicle permit (vehicle portion).

5.      A cancelled personalized cheque.

6.      A mortgage statement, lease or rental agreement relating to property in Ontario.

7.      An insurance policy or insurance statement.

8.      A loan agreement or other financial agreement with a financial institution.

9.      A document issued or certified by a court in Ontario.

10.    Any other document from the government of Canada, Ontario or a municipality in Ontario or from an agency of such a government.

11.    Any document from a Band Council in Ontario established under the Indian Act (Canada).

12.    An income tax assessment notice.

13.    A Child Tax Benefit Statement.

14.    A Statement of Employment Insurance Benefits Paid T4E.

15.    A Statement of Old Age Security T4A (OAS).

16.    A Statement of Canada Pension Plan Benefits T4A (P).

17.    A Canada Pension Plan Statement of Contributions.

18.    A Statement of Direct Deposit for Ontario Works.

19.    A Statement of Direct Deposit for Ontario Disability Support Program.

20.    A Workplace Safety and Insurance Board Statement of Benefits T5007.

21.    A property tax assessment.

22.    A credit card statement, bank account statement, or RRSP, RRIF, RHOSP or T5 statement.

23.    A CNIB Card or a card from another registered charitable organization that provides services to persons with disabilities.

24.    A hospital card or record.

25.    A document showing campus residence, issued by the office or officials responsible for student residence at a post-secondary institution.

26.    A document showing residence at a long-term care home under the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021, issued by the Administrator for the home.

27.    A utility bill for hydro, water, gas, telephone or cable TV or a bill from a public utilities commission.

28.    A cheque stub, T4 statement or pay receipt issued by an employer.

29.    A transcript or report card from a post-secondary school.

2026 Municipal Election - Telephone & Internet Voting Policy and Procedure

2026 Municipal Election Accessibility Plan

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) - Candidates Guide

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) - Voters Guide

Ontario Municipal Councillor’s Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Municipal Elections Act, 1996

Education Act, 1990

Municipal Act, 2001

As of January 1, 2024, the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) is no longer responsible for collecting voter information for local elections. MPAC is legislatively required to collect school support information.

You can update your school support designation through MPAC’s Online School Support Tool.

As a property owner in Ontario, you are required to support a school system, even if you do not have children or your children are not currently attending school. This information can be found on your Property Assessment Notice.

Learn more about school support by visiting MPAC.

The municipalities of Athens, Augusta, Brockville, Edwardsburgh Cardinal, Elizabethtown-Kitley, Front of Yonge, Gananoque, Leeds & the Thousand Islands, Merrickville-Wolford, North Grenville, Prescott, Rideau Lakes and Westport are recruiting experienced professionals for appointment to the Leeds and Grenville Municipal Election Joint Compliance Audit Committee. 

The Municipal Elections Act, 1996, as amended (MEA), requires municipalities to establish a Compliance Audit Committee to consider applications requesting audits of election campaign finances. The Committee may be required to appoint auditors and determine if legal proceedings are required as a result of the auditors’ reports.

Applicants with a background in law, election administration, public administration, auditing and accounting, professionals who are required to adhere to codes of standards of their profession and those with in-depth knowledge of the campaign financing rules are preferred.

Applicants should have:  

• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of municipal elections, including campaign financing rules;
• Proven analytical and decision-making skills;
• Experience working on committees, task forces or similar settings;
• Availability and willingness to attend meetings during daytime and evening hours over a four-year term, as required; and
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Pursuant to subsection 88.37 (2) of the MEA, applicants cannot be candidates or registered third party advertisers in the 2026 Municipal Election, or any by-election during the 2026-2030 Council term, nor can they have committed to providing professional advice to any person running for office in any of the participating municipalities. Municipal employees and members of Council are also ineligible.

The Committee’s term of office is four years, beginning in November 2026. Successful applicants, in good standing, will receive a $100 retainer annually, for four (4) years, and may receive additional compensation depending on compensation by-laws of the local municipalities.

Applicants may be required to participate in an interview process.

For further information or to obtain an application form please visit the participating municipal websites or contact the Clerk of any of the participating municipalities, or the Clerk of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville.

Deadline to apply is 4:00 p.m. on Friday, June 5, 2026 - Closed

Nomination Period - Closed on Friday, August 21, 2026 at 2:00 PM.

Are You Eligible to Run for and Hold Office?

You may run for a Council position if you are eligible to vote in the election and fulfill all of the following requirements below:

Mayor and Council:

• You are 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;
• You are a Canadian citizen;
• You are least 18 years old;
• You are not legally prohibited from voting, and; 
• You are not disqualified by any legislation from holding municipal office.

It is the responsibility of the Candidate to determine whether or not they are eligible to run for and hold Municipal or School Board office.

If you are satisfied that you meet the prescribed requirements, as set out in the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, and wish to campaign for office you must first file, by appointment, with the Clerk’s Office, located at the Town Hall, 30 King Street East, Gananoque, ON, during the Nomination Period (beginning Tuesday, May 1, 2026, (Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM) up to and including August 21, 2026 at 2:00 PM.

The following are REQUIRED to file with the Clerk:

1. Form 1 – Nomination Paper
2. Form 2 - Endorsement of Nominations
3. Identification showing your name and address (i.e. Ontario Driver’s Licence, Ontario Health Card (photo card), Property Tax Assessment etc.), and;
4. Nomination Fee:  $200 for Mayor and $100 for Councillor.

**Hard copies are available at the Town Hall Front Reception. 

Accepted forms of Payment are:

• Debit
• Certified Cheque or Money Order, made payable to the Town of Gananoque.

The nomination filing fee is refunded when a candidate submits their Financial Statement (and Auditor's Report, if applicable) in March 2027.

A candidate cannot raise or spend any money on their campaign until the Nomination Paper has been filed.

Bank Account

Candidates must open a bank account exclusively for their campaign if accepting any contributions of money (including contributions from yourself or your spouse) or incur any expenses. Candidates do not have to open a campaign bank account if they do not spend any money and do not receive any contributions of money. If receiving contributions of goods or services, but no contributions of money, you do not have to open a campaign bank account.