The 2026 Municipal & School Board Election will elect the positions of Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Councillor (5), and School Board Trustee (1 per School Board). Information about how to become a candidate can be found on this page.
Nominations for the 2026 Municipal & School Board Election are now open. The nomination period runs from Friday, May 1, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. until Friday, August 21, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.
Interested candidates are encouraged to contact the Clerk by emailing clerk@meaford.ca or by phone at 519-538-1060 ext. 1100.
Who Can Run?
To run as a candidate in a municipal election, you must:
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Be a Canadian citizen and at least 18 years old
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Be qualified to vote in the municipality by:
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living in the municipality, or
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owning or renting property in the municipality, or
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being the spouse of somebody who owns or rents property in the municipality
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Not be prohibited from holding municipal office according to Section 29 of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996
Key Dates
| Friday, May 1, 2026 |
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| Friday, August 21, 2026 — Nomination Day |
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| Monday, August 24, 2026 |
| Deadline to certify nominations |
| Friday, October 16, 2026 |
| Voting period begins |
| Monday, October 26, 2026 |
| Election Day — voting ends at 8:00 p.m. EST |
| Monday, November 16, 2026 |
| Inaugural meeting; new term of office begins |
How do I file my nomination?
Nominations are open from May 1, 2026, until August 21, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Those wishing to file their nomination papers are strongly encouraged to book a 30-minute appointment with the Clerk’s Department to ensure that staff are available. Staff will review nomination forms and provide additional resources during filing. Book an appointment by emailing elections@meaford.ca or by phone at 519-538-1060 ext. 1110.
The following is required to file a nomination:
- Nomination Paper - Form 1
- Endorsement of Nomination - Form 2 (Requires 25 original signatures from eligible Municipality of Meaford voters / Not required for School Board Trustee Candidates )
- Declaration of Qualifications
- Consent to Release Personal Information (Form MEL3)
- Prescribed nomination filing fee ($200 for Mayor, $100 for all other offices)
- Provide Proof of Identification and Residence as prescribed in O.Reg. 304/13
Important Notes
- Campaigning is not allowed until your nomination papers have been officially filed.
- Not all form sections are fillable as they are required to be completed in person upon filing.
- Forms 1 and 2 are Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs forms. If you have difficulty opening these forms, please try saving the form and then opening it in Adobe Reader. If you have difficulty with any other forms, please contact elections@meaford.ca. Paper copies of the candidate package, including all necessary forms, are available for pickup at the Municipal Administration Office, located at 21 Trowbridge St. W.
Resources
| Municipal Resources |
| Grey County Resources |
| Provincial Resources |
| Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Resources |
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