Are you registered to vote in the 2026 Ontario Municipal and School Board Elections on October 26th?

You can use Elections Ontario’s Voter Registration service to confirm, update or add your information for both provincial and municipal elections in Ontario until August 12, 2026.

Take a few minutes to verify your information at and please encourage your friends and family to do the same.

Dysart residents will vote to elect the following members:

• Mayor of Dysart et al
• Deputy Mayor of Dysart et al
• Members of Dysart et al Council (Wards 1-5. Click here to view the Ward Boundary Map)
• Trustees for the English Public and French Public School Boards. 

To vote in Dysart et al, you must be:

• A Canadian citizen;
• At least 18 years old;
• A resident in the Municipality of Dysart et al; or
• A non-resident of Dysart et al and you or your spouse own or rent property in the Municipality; and
• Not prohibited from voting under any law. 

You may only vote once in the Dysart et al Municipal Election regardless of how many properties you own or rent within the Municipality. If you are a resident within the Municipality, you must vote in the ward where you live, either permanently or seasonally. 

If you are a non-resident elector, and you own or rent properties in more than one ward in the Municipality, you must choose only one ward to vote in. Make sure that you are on the voters list for that qualifying address.

You cannot vote if you are:

• serving a sentence of imprisonment in a penal or correctional institution;
• a corporation;
• acting as executor or trustee or in another representative capacity; or
• convicted of a corrupt practice described in section 90(3) of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996.

Dysart electors will be able to vote by internet or telephone for the 2026 Municipal and School Board Election. There will be no paper ballots. 

Eligible electors can cast their votes between October 16, 2026 and Election Day (October 26, 2026).

Voter Information Letters will be mailed to every eligible person shown on the Voters’ List in the fall of 2026. Dates will be posted here as soon as they are confirmed.

Check out the Province of Ontario's 2026 Voters' Guide to find out who is eligible to vote, how to vote, and how you can support candidates in Ontario municipal council and school board elections. 

The Dysart Municipal Office located at 135 Maple Avenue will also have digital voting stations available with a secure internet connection during the advance vote period (October 16-26). See the Voting Accommodations section for more information. 

The Voter Help and Revision Centre will be located at the Dysart Municipal Office at 135 Maple Avenue in Haliburton, Ontario. Voters may use this service in order to make additions, deletions and corrections to the Preliminary List of Electors/Voters List during the following hours:

• Monday to Friday during normal business hours (8:30 am to 4:30 pm) from September 1, 2026 to October 23, 2026; and
• On Voting Day, Monday October 26, 2026, between the hours of 8:30 am to 8:00 pm. 

Curbside Assistance:

For those who are physically unable to go inside the Voter Help and Revision Centre, please bring a friend or support person to come inside the Municipal Office to request assistance on your behalf, or call in advance to make an appointment. An Election Official will meet you outside to provide assistance with your election needs including voter list corrections, the completion of election forms or the issuance or replacement of your Voter Notification Letter. 

The advance vote will be held from Friday, October 16th and end on Voting Day (October 26th). The Dysart Municipal Office will have digital voting stations set up with a secure internet connection for those wishing to cast their vote. Trained election officials will be on site to provide assistance where required. 

If you plan to visit the Municipal Office to cast your vote, bring your voter information letter containing your unique PIN and one piece of ID that has your name and address on it. Any identification listed on the Province of Ontario's acceptable document list for voter identification will be accepted. Staff will check if you are eligible to vote before directing you to the voting area where you will go behind a voting screen and use a computer or an iPad to cast your vote. 

Curbside Voting:

We will offer curbside voting during the Advance Vote Period (October 16th-26th) for those physically unable to go inside the voting place. Please bring a friend or support person to come inside the Municipal Office to request curbside voting on your behalf, or call in advance to make an appointment. An iPad will be brought out to your car to allow you to cast your vote.

Personal Assistance:

If you require personal assistance to vote, you may ask a friend to assist you. Your friend must swear a declaration prior to offering assistance. The person acting as a friend may go behind the voting screen with you. A person may act as a friend only once, except in nursing homes, or for family members.

Service Animals:

Pursuant to the Municipality of Dysart Municipal and School Board Election Accessibility Plan, individuals requiring service animals are permitted to be accompanied by a service animal at the Voting Place and Help and Revision Centre. 

Interpreters:

If you require the assistance of an interpreter, you may ask anyone who is not a candidate or a scrutineer to act as your interpreter. The interpreter must swear a declaration before providing assistance.

Accessibility Plan:

For more information on voting accommodations and accessibility, please see our 2026 Municipal and School Board Election Accessibility Plan.

 There are two different kind of school boards in the Dysart et al election:

• English-language public school board (Trillium Lakelands District School Board): This is the default school board. Unless you are qualified to vote for a separate or French board, you will vote for the English public school board; and
• French language public school board (Conseil scolaire de district du Centre Sud-Ouest): You must be a French language rights holder, and you must be a supporter (or the spouse of a supporter) of the French language public school board.

In order to change your support from the default English-language public school board, visit www.mpac.ca/en/MakingChangesUpdates/SchoolSupportDesignation by June 1st, 2026.

Municipal Elections are conducted in accordance with the Municipal Elections Act, S.O. 1996, as amended, hereinafter referred to as the MEA. The Municipality of Dysart et al will be using an alternative voting method under s.42 of the MEA, being Internet and Telephone voting.

2026 Municipal and School Board Election Procedures

The procedures and forms contained in this document have been developed as required by MEA and will be revised/amended as deemed necessary by the Clerk up to and including Voting Day.

Amendments to the procedures will be emailed to each Candidate to the address shown on filed Nomination Forms and posted on the Municipality of Dysart et al website (www.dysartetal.ca).

With respect to matters of policy and procedures for alternative voting methods and all other municipal election matters, the decision of the Clerk or designate is final.

The contents of this document are intended only as a guide to certain provisions of relevant legislation and do not purport to recite all applicable statutory references. Candidates must satisfy themselves through their own determination that they have complied with the MEA.

To qualify as a candidate for Municipal Council, you must be:

• A Canadian citizen;
• At least 18 years old;
• A resident in the Municipality of Dysart et al; or
• A non-resident of Dysart et al and you or your spouse own or rent property in the Municipality; and
• Not legally prohibited from voting; and
• Not disqualified by any legislation from holding municipal office.

The following individuals cannot run for Council:

• employees of the Municipality of Dysart et al, unless they are on an unpaid leave of absence from their employment at the time of nomination and are able to provide copies of documentation showing the unpaid leave and the effective date. As per section 30(7) of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, volunteer firefighters shall not be considered employees of the Municipality;
• a judge of any court;
• a member of the Provincial Legislature, the Federal House of Commons or Senate who has not resigned from their office by the close of nominations. Proof of resignation must be provided by the close of nominations or the Clerk will not certify the nomination;
• a member of the Executive Council of Ontario or a federal Minister of the Crown;
• individuals prohibited from voting in the municipal election under subsection 17(3) of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, as amended;
• a former candidate who failed to file the necessary financial statement or exceeded the prescribed spending limit in the last municipal election.

 To qualify as a School Board Trustee candidate, you must be:

• A Canadian citizen;
• At least 18 years old;
• A resident in the school board area of jurisdiction;
• An eligible voter for members of the school board for which you are seeking office;
• Not legally prohibited from voting; and 
• Not disqualified by any legislation from holding municipal office.

The following individuals cannot run for the office of School Board Trustee:

• employees of any district school board (including supply teachers) or school authority, unless they are on an unpaid leave of absence as provided for by section 219 (5) of the Education Act, 1990, as amended, and section 30 of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996;
• a clerk, treasurer, deputy-clerk or deputy-treasurer of any municipality within the school board's area of jurisdiction, unless they are on an unpaid leave of absence as provided for by section 219 (5) of the Education Act, 1990, as amended, and section 30 of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996;
• a judge of any court;
• a member of the Provincial Legislature, the Federal House of Commons or Senate who has not resigned from their office by the close of nominations. Proof of resignation must be provided by the close of nominations or the Clerk will not certify the nomination;
• a member of the Executive Council of Ontario or a federal Minister of the Crown;
• individuals prohibited from voting in the municipal election under subsection 17(3) of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, as amended;
• a former candidate who failed to file the necessary financial statement or exceeded the prescribed spending limit in the last municipal election.

Nominations can only be filed in person by appointment during the nomination period for candidates to run in the 2026 Municipal Election. The nomination period begins on Friday, May 1, 2026 and ends at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, August 21, 2026.

Please contact Amanda Duncombe-Lee, Elections Coordinator, at aduncombe-lee@dysartetal.ca or call (705) 457-1740 Ext. 631 to make an appointment.

Along with their completed Nomination Form 1, candidates must also must submit their completed Nomination Form 2 with 25 signatures from individuals eligible to vote in Dysart on the day they signed the endorsement. This does not apply to School Board Trustee candidates.

Identification must be provided at the time of filing your nomination.

Nomination filing fees of $200 apply for Candidates running for Mayor and $100 for Deputy Mayor, Councillors or School Board Trustees and must be paid at the time of your appointment.

The municipality also has Nomination Packages available for interested candidates.

These secure and fillable PDF forms are provided by the Province of Ontario and require free Adobe Acrobat Reader software.

1. Nomination Paper – Ontario Form 1
2. Endorsement of Nomination – Ontario Form 2 (with the original signatures of at least 25 voters eligible to vote in the Municipality of Dysart supporting your nomination)
3. Notice of Registration – Third Party – Ontario Form 7 (Declaration of Qualification)

Please note: The requirement to submit Form 2 with 25 nomination signatures does not apply to school board trustee candidates.

Additional forms will be completed upon scheduling a nomination filing appointment with the Elections Coordinator at the Dysart municipal office.

You as a Candidate must open a bank account exclusively for your campaign if you accept any contributions of money (including contributions from yourself or your spouse) or incur any expenses.

You do not have to open a campaign bank account if you do not spend any money and do not receive any contributions of money. If you receive contributions of goods or services, but no contributions of money, you do not have to open a campaign bank account.

You cannot use your personal bank account for campaign finances, even if you are planning a very small campaign. All contributions — including contributions you make to yourself — must be deposited into the campaign bank account. All expenses must be paid from the campaign account.

The Municipal Election Act refers to the requirement of a “Campaign Bank Account” not a Business or Commercial Account.

Municipal Elections are conducted in accordance with the Municipal Elections Act, S.O. 1996, as amended, hereinafter referred to as the MEA. The Municipality of Dysart et al will be using an alternative voting method under s.42 of the MEA, being Internet and Telephone voting.

2026 Municipal and School Board Election Procedures

The procedures and forms contained in this document have been developed as required by MEA and will be revised/amended as deemed necessary by the Clerk up to and including Voting Day.

Amendments to the procedures will be emailed to each Candidate to the address shown on filed Nomination Forms and posted on the Municipality of Dysart et al website (www.dysartetal.ca).

With respect to matters of policy and procedures for alternative voting methods and all other municipal election matters, the decision of the Clerk or designate is final.

The contents of this document are intended only as a guide to certain provisions of relevant legislation and do not purport to recite all applicable statutory references. Candidates must satisfy themselves through their own determination that they have complied with the MEA.

When an individual, corporation or trade union pays for advertisements or other materials that support, promote or oppose an election candidate or issue, they are considered a third party advertiser. Individuals, corporations or trade unions that intend to spend money on advertising must register with the Municipality as a Third Party Advertiser between May 1st, 2026 to October 23rd, 2026.  Third party advertisers cannot spend money on the campaign, accept contributions or begin advertising under their registration is certified.

For more information, please check out the Ministry of Municipal Affairs Guide for Third Party Advertisers. Please use the table of contents in the top centre of the table to navigate the guide.   

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

• A resident of Ontario
• A corporation carrying on business in Ontario
• 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 in the municipal or provincial election;
• A group, association or business that is not a corporation;
• A federal or provincial political party; or
• The Crown in right of Canada or Ontario, a municipality or local board.

You, or a representative from your corporation or trade union, will need to complete a Notice of Registration form and submit it, along with all of the required documents, to the Municipal Clerk at the Municipal Office located at 135 Maple Avenue in Haliburton, Ontario between May 1st to October 23rd, 2026. Forms are available below.

Individuals

If you're registering as an individual, you must provide:

1. A completed Notice of Registration Form (Form 7); and
2. A piece of identification showing your name, your qualifying Ontario address and signature.

If you're registering on behalf of another individual registrant, you must provide:

1. A completed Notice of Registration Form;
2. A copy of the registrant's identification showing their name, Ontario address and signature; and
3. A copy of your identification showing your name and signature.

Please note that there is no restriction against family members or campaign staff of candidates registering to be third party advertisers. However, third party advertising must be done independently of the candidate.

Corporations

If you’re registering on behalf of a corporation, you must provide:

1. A completed Notice of Registration Form (Form 7);
2. A copy of your identification showing your name and signature; and
3. Proof that the corporation operates in Ontario and that you are a director or officer of the corporation. This could include a corporate search or incorporating documents (letters patent); or
4. If the corporation has more than one director, provide a resolution from the board authorizing you to act as the corporation’s representative.

If the same people or person own or control multiple corporations, or if one corporation controls another, only one corporation can register as a third party advertiser.

Trade Unions

If you are registering on behalf of a trade union, you must provide:

1. A completed Notice of Registration Form (Form 7);
2. Proof the trade union exists; and
3. A resolution from the board authorizing you to act as the trade union’s representative.

These links will take you to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Central Forms Repository website. 

1. Form 7: Notice of Registration – Third Party
2. Form 8: Financial Statement – Auditor’s Report Third Party

• Community members considering a run for municipal office in 2026
• First-time or returning candidates seeking confidence and clarity
• Civic leaders exploring if elected office is right for them

• Clarity of purpose and authentic leadership values
• Tools for managing conflict and communication
• Strategies to sustain wellbeing and prevent burnout
• Practical campaign resources and peer connections

• 2022 Certified Election Results
• 2022 Election Results Report
• 2022 Unofficial Election Results
• 2022 List of Certified Election Candidates
• 2022 List of Acclamations to Office
• 2022 Municipal and School Board Election Accessibility Plan
• 2022 Post-Election Accessibility Report
• 2014-2022 Election Expenses
• Report of Compliance and Candidate Financial Statements - 2022 Municipal and School Board Election

• 2018 Election Results
• 2014 Election Results
• Combined Candidate Financial Statements for the 2018 Election
• Combined Candidate Financial Statements for the 2014 Election