Elections

Are you on the voter's list? 

Check if you are on the voter's list using the provincial registration system.

You can:

• Check your status
• Update your information 
• Add yourself to the list

Register to Vote 

You can also learn more about school board support or update you information through the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) at mpac.ca/schoolsupport.

Removing a name from the voters’ list

The voter's list is a public document.

• You can request to have your name removed from the voter's list by contacting the clerk.
• If your name is removed, you will not be able to vote
• You may also request the removal of someone who is deceased (note: you cannot request the removal of another person for any other reason)

You can vote using:

• A paper ballot
• An online ballot

Details on when and where to vote will be shared closer to Election Day. 

Collingwood uses an “at-large” system, meaning you are voting for candidates to represent the entire municipality.

The election will include the following positions: 

• Mayor (1)
• Deputy Mayor (1)
• Councillors (7)
• School Board Trustee (1)

Nominations for candidates opens May 1, 2026.

You are eligible to vote in the Municipal and School Board Election, if you:

• Are a Canadian citizen
• Are aged 18 years or older
• Qualify to vote in the municipality

Three ways to qualify to vote in a municipality:

• As a resident elector: 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.
• As a non-resident elector: you own or rent property in a municipality, but live elsewhere. You can only be a resident elector in one municipality but you may be a non-resident elector in other municipalities where you own or rent property.
• As the spouse of a non-resident elector: your spouse owns or rents property in a municipality other than where you live.
  • Please note: To qualify as a non-resident elector, you must personally own or rent the property; properties owned by a business or held in trust do not qualify. 

For more information about eligibility to vote, please see the 2026 voter's guide. If you are uncertain with whether you qualify, email clerk@collingwood.ca.

Explore this section:

• Students
• Voting in more than one municipality
• School boards elections
• Voting in more than one school board election
• Choosing a school board
• Eligibility for different school boards

Students

There is a special rule for students who may be living away from home while they attend school.

Students may be eligible to vote in both:

• Their home municipality
• The municipality where they attend school

Voting in more than one municipality

If you qualify to vote in more than one municipality, you can vote in each of those municipal elections. 

Please note: If two or more of those municipalities are lower-tier, in the same region, and elect representatives to a regional council, you can only vote for that regional council office once.

School board elections

School board elections take place at the same time as municipal elections. You may vote in a school board election if you: 

• Are a Canadian citizen
• Are aged 18 years or older
• Qualify to vote for that particular school board

You may only vote once per school board election.

School boards may cover multiple municipalities. If you are a resident elector, you are eligible to vote for the school trustee(s) representing your geographic area.

Voting in more than one school board election

You may be eligible to vote in more than one school board election if:

• You (or your spouse) own or rent property in another municipality or unorganized area, and the trustee there represents another school board
• The property owned or being rented is residential
• The property owned or being rented is not commercial

Choosing a school board

There are four types of school boards in Ontario:

• English-language public school board
• English-language separate school board
• French-language public school board
• French-language separate school board

You are automatically eligible to vote for the English-language public school board unless you change your school support. To learn more about school support or how to change your school support, please contact the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation at mpac.ca/schoolsupport.

Eligibility for different school boards

To vote for a different type of school board, you must meet specific requirements:

•  English-language separate school board:
  • You must be Roman Catholic
  • You or your spouse must be registered as a supporter
• French-language public school board:
  • You must be a French-language rights holder*
  • You or your spouse must be a registered supporter
• French-language separate school board you must meet all of the following requirements:
  • You must be Roman Catholic
  • You must be a French-language rights holder*
  • You or your spouse must be registered supporter

A French-language rights holder is defined in the Education Act, and refers to the right of citizens whose first language is French to receive educational instruction in French. Learn more about French-language education through the Ministry of Education.

To be added to the voter's list, your identification must include:

• Your name 
• Your qualifying address

Goverment-issued identification

• Ontario driver’s licence 
• Ontario Health Card (photo card)
• Ontario Photo Card
• Ontario motor vehicle permit (vehicle portion)

Financial and property documents

• Mortgage statement, lease, or rental agreement relating to property in Ontario
• Property tax assessment
• Insurance policy or statement
• Loan or financial agreement with a financial institution
• Credit card or bank statement, or RRSP, RRIF, RHOSP, or T5 statement
• Cancelled personalized cheque

Government benefits and tax documents

• Income tax assessment notice
• Child tax benefit statement
• Statement of employment insurance benefits paid - T4E
• Statement of old age security - T4A (OAS)
• Canada Pension Plan benefits statement - T4A(P)
• Canada Pension Plan statement of contributions
• Ontario Works direct deposit statement 
• Ontario Disability Support Program direct deposit statement 
• Workplace Safety and Insurance Board statement of benefits - T5007

Other acceptable documents

• Document issued or certified by a court in Ontario
• Any other document issued by the Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, a municipality in Ontario, or an agency of these governments
• Any document from a Band Council in Ontario established under the Indian Act (Canada)
• Utility bill (hydro, water, gas, telephone, or cable) or a bill from a public utilities commission
• Cheque stub, T4 statement or pay receipt issued by an employer

Institutional or specialized documents

• CNIB Card or a card from another registered charitable organization that provides services to persons with disabilities
• Hospital card or record
• Document showing campus residence, issued by the office or officials responsible for student residence at a post-secondary institution
• Transcript or report card from a post-secondary institution
• Document showing residence at a long-term care home under the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007, issued by the Administrator for the home

What is a third-party advertiser?

A third-party advertiser is an individual or organization (not a candidate) that supports, promotes, or opposes:

• A candidate
• A "yes" or "no" answer on the ballot

They must: 

• Register with the municipal Clerk before spending money on third-party advertisements during the election
• Submit a financial statement 
• Operate independently from candidates

For more information on third-party advertising, please see the Third-Party Advertisers’ Guide.

Who can make contributions?

• Individuals who are residents of Ontario
• Corporations carrying on business in Ontario and trade unions that hold bargaining rights for employees in Ontario may contribute only to third-party advertisers, not candidates
• Groups such as neighbourhood associations, clubs, or professional associations are not eligible to make financial contributions; however, members may contribute individually

What are the contribution limits?

• Up to $1,200 per candidate (up to $2,500 to a mayoral candidate in the City of Toronto)
• Up to $1,200 per third-party advertiser
• Up to $5,000 total to candidates running for the same offices or thrid party advertisers in the same municipality

Please note: If you want to contribute to a candidate or third-party advertiser, you should ensure you keep track of your donations to ensure that you don’t end up giving more than is permitted, as these amounts include the value of any goods or services donated to the campaign. For example, if you buy a ticket to a candidate’s or a third-party advertiser’s fundraiser, the cost of the ticket is a contribution.

What are other rules regarding contributions?

• Contributions must come directly from the contributor
• You cannot pool contributions from others and then forward that money to a candidate’s campaign or a third-party advertiser
• If a contribution is made from a joint account, it must be clear which person is making the contribution.
• Contributions over $25 cannot be made in cash
• Contributions over $25 must be made by cheque, money order, or another traceable method
• Contributions over $100 are recorded recorded in a public financial statement (includes name and address)

Are contributions tax deductible?

• Contributions to municipal council, school board candidates, and third-party advertisers are not tax deductible
• Municipalities may offer rebate programs for contributions to candidates 
• Rebate programs do not apply to contributions to third-party advertisers

For more information, contact your municipal Clerk. For questions related to the Town of Collingwood, email clerk@collingwood.ca.

What happens to unused campaign funds?

• Surplus campaign funds must be turned over to the municipality
• Contributions cannot be returned to contributors

How are contributions reviewed?

• Financial statements are reviewed by the municipal Clerk to ensure compliance with contribution rules
• Contributions to candidates and/or third-party advertisers that exceed limits may be reported to a compliance audit committee
• The committee will review the matter and determine whether legal action should be taken

What happens if I have concerns about an election?

• If you believe an election was not valid, you may apply to the Superior Court of Justice within 90 days of Election Day
• Any person can begin court proceedings against a person, trade union, or corporation who they believe committed an offence in relation to an election
• Only the court can determine whether the person, trade union, or corporation commited an offence, and only the court may determine the penalty

What are election offences?

It is an offence to do any of the following:

• Vote if you are not an eligible elector
• Vote more times than you are permitted
• Vote where you are not entitled to vote
• Influence a person who is not an eligible elector to vote
• Vote after you have appointed a proxy
• Vote as a proxy if the person who appointed you cancelled the appointment, became ineligible to vote, or died
• Give, take, or tamper with ballots without authorization
• Handle a ballot box or ballots if you are not authorized to do so
• Bribe or accept a bribe related to voting or candidacy
• Not vote at all, or give someone else money so that they can bribe another individual

It is also an offence to:

• Break campaign finance rules
• Contribute when not eligible
• Exceed contribution limits
• Contribute money that is not your own

What are the penalties?

If convicted of committing an offence, penalties may include:

• A fine of up to $25,000 (corporations or trade unions may face fines of up to $50,000)
• Ineligibility to vote or run in the next election
• Up to six months in prison

Penalties are determined by the court under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996.

To run for a position on municipal council, you must:

• Be eligible to vote in that municipality
• Be a Canadian citizen 
• Be aged 18 years or older on the day you file your nomination
• Qualify as a resident or non-resident elector

Please note: You must be eligible to hold office at the time you file your nomination.

What if I am a municipal employee?

• You cannot work for a municipality and serve on its council at the same time
• If you are running for council in the same municipality where you are employed, you must take an unpaid leave of absence starting on the day you are nominated and resign from your position if elected
• If you are running for council in a different municipality then where you are employed, you are not required to take a leave of absence, but you should confirm with your employer whether any policies apply.
• If you are running for council in a lower-tier municipality while working for an upper-tier municipality, you are not required to take a leave of absence or resign unless being elected to the lower-tier council means you would also be a member of the upper-tier council.

Who is not eligible to run?

You are not eligible to be elected to municipal office if you are:

• Not eligible to vote in the municipality
• A municipal employee who has not taken an unpaid leave of absence (see above)
• An active judge of any court
• An MP, MPP, or senator
• Serving a sentence in a penal or correctional institution

If you have not resigned by nomination day, your nomination will be rejected and your name will not appear on the ballot.

Explore this section:

• How do I file a nomination?
• How do I choose my name on the ballot?
• What is the nomination fee?
• Do I need endorsement signatures?
• What are the nomination deadlines?
• Can I withdraw my nomination?
• Can I run for a different office after filing my nomination?
• What is an acclamation?
• What happens if there are not enough candidates?

How do I file a nomination?

To file your nomination, you must provide the following to the municipal clerk:

• A nomination form (Form 1) 
• The nomination fee
• Completed endorsement of nomination forms (Form 2) (note: candidates for school board trustee are not required to submit endorsement signatures)

Nomination forms must be filed in person or by an agent on your behalf at the Town Hall, 97 Hurontario Street, Collingwood, ON, and it is recommended that you contact the Clerk's Office to book an appointment. 

Book Now!

Additionally, identification is required to confirm eligibility and your campaign period begins once your nomination has been received by the Clerk.

How do I choose my name on the ballot?

When completing your nomination form, you must indicate how you want your name to appear on the ballot.

• You may use the name you commonly go by instead of your legal first name, provided the Clerk approves it
• You do not need to include all of your names under “Given Name(s)” on the form, only include the name(s) you want to appear on the ballot
• If your legal name consists of a single name, you are not required to provide any given names

What is the nomination fee?

• $200 to run for head of council
• $100 to run for all other positions

This fee must be paid to the Clerk (Town of Collingwood) at the time you submit your nomination form and will be refunded if you file your campaign financial statement by the deadline.

Do I need endorsement signatures?

You must submit a minimum of 25 original endorsement signatures if you are running for municipal council in a municipality that has 4,000 or more electors.

You do not need to submit endorsement signatures if:

• Running in a municipality that has fewer than 4,000 electors
• Running for school board trustee

Endorsements must:

• Be submitted using the Endorsement of Nomination Form (Form 2)
• Be from individuals who are eligible to vote in the municipality at the time they sign
• Include the endorser's name and address (including postal code)
• Include a signed declaration confirming their eligibility

Additional rules:

• A person may endorse more than one candidate
• If an endorser is later found to be ineligible, your nomination will still be accepted, though the person who supplied false information could be subject to prosecution
• The Endorsement of Nomination Form (Form 2) is a public document and cannot be withdrawn once filed with the Clerk

What are the nomination deadlines?

• Nominations open: May 1, 2026
• Nominations close: August 21, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.

The Clerk will certify nominations by 4:00 p.m. on Monday, August 24, 2026. The Clerk must be satisfied that you are eligible to run in order to certify your nomination. If your nomination is not certified, your name will not appear on the ballot.

Can I withdraw my nomination?

• You may withdraw your nomination in writing to the Clerk by the close of nominations on August 21, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.
• If you withdraw your nomination after the deadline, your name will remain on the ballot
• You must still file a financial statement, even if you withdraw and/or your campaign did not have any financial transactions
  • Please note: Your nomination fee will be refunded by the clerk if you file your financial statement by the deadline.

Can I run for a different office after filing my nomination?

• You can only run for one office at a time
• If you file a nomination for a different office, your first nomination is deemed to be withdrawn

If both offices are on the same council or school board:

• If both offices are elected at-large (for example, an office such as the mayor, which everyone in the municipality may vote for), all financials from your first campaign get transferred to your second campaign
• If one or both of the offices is elected by ward, you must keep the two campaigns separate

If you run for office in a different municipality or school board:

• You must keep the two campaigns separate
• You will need to submit original endorsement signatures from electors eligible to vote in that municipality (if municipality has over 4,000 electors)
  • Please note: If unsure about the number of electors your municipality has, you should contact your municipal clerk.

What is an acclamation?

An acclamation occurs when a candidate is elected to office without any opposition.

• If only one certified candidate runs for an office as of 4:00 p.m. on August 24, 2026, that candidate will be declared elected by acclamation
• In municipalities where multiple candidates are elected at large, if multiple positions are available and the number of certified candidates is equal to or less than the number of offices, those candidates will be declared elected by acclamation

Even if elected by acclamation, you must still file a campaign financial statement.

What happens if there are not enough candidates?

If there are vacant positions after nominations close the clerk will call for additional nominations.

Additional nominations:

• Must be filed between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on August 26, 2026
• Will be certified or rejected by 4:00 p.m. on August 27, 2026 by the municipal Clerk

For information about campaigning and candidate finances, review the  2026 Candidates' Guide provided by the Province of Ontario and the Municipal Elections Act. 

When does my campaign start and end?

Your campaign period begins on the day you file your nomination papers with the Clerk. You may only accept contributions or incur campaign expenses during your campaign period.

In most cases, your campaign will end on December 31, 2026. 

Your campaign may end earlier if:

• You withdraw your nomination (your campaign ends on the date you notify the Clerk in writing)
• Your nomination is not certified and your name does not appear on the ballot (your campaign ends on nomination day - August 21, 2026)
• You end your campaign early after voting day because you know you will not have any further financial activity

If you extended your campaign to pay down a deficit, your campaign period may continue until June 30, 2027, or until you notify the Clerk in writing that you are ending your campaign and are not accepting any more contributions

The Election Sign By-law is currently under review. Stay tuned for updates.

Your municipality may have rules about:

• When you can put up campaign signs
• How signs may be displayed on public property

All of your campaign signs and other advertising must identify that you are responsible for the sign. This is so that people seeing the sign or advertisement can tell that it is from your campaign, rather than from a third party advertiser.

Please note: You are responsible for ensuring that your campaign signs are removed after voting day. Your municipality may require a sign deposit or have penalties for failing to remove your signs. 

All candidates must file a financial statement. This includes:

• Candidates who withdrew their nomination
• Candidates who were not certified and did not appear on the ballot
• Candidates who were acclaimed

Every candidate must fill out and file the Financial Statement - Auditor's Report Candidate (Form 4) to report their campaign's money and spending to the municipal clerk.

• Your completed financial statement must be submitted to the clerk by 2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 30, 2027.
• Supplementary financial statements must be submitted to the clerk by 2 p.m. on the last Friday in September (September 24, 2027).

For information about campaigning and candidate finances, review the  2026 Candidates' Guide provided by the Province of Ontario and the Municipal Elections Act. 

If your campaign expenses or the contributions you received total more than $10,000, you must have an auditor review your financial statement and provide a report.

The auditor’s report must be prepared by an auditor licensed under the Public Accounting Act, 2004. Before hiring an auditor, you should ensure that they are properly qualified.

Automatic penalties

There are three contraventions of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 where penalties apply automatically:

• If you fail to file a financial statement by the end of the 30-day grace period or fail to apply to the court before the prescribed deadline for an extension by the filing deadline
• If your financial statement shows that you exceeded your spending limit
• If you fail to turn over your surplus to the Clerk when you file your financial statement

The penalty is that you forfeit your office (if you won the election) and you become ineligible to run or be appointed to fill a vacancy until after the 2030 election.

Compliance audits

Each municipality and school board must appoint a compliance audit committee.

If an eligible elector believes that you have contravened the election finance rules, they may apply for a compliance audit of your campaign finances. The application must be in writing and must set out the reasons why they believe you contravened the rules.

An application for a compliance audit must be submitted to the municipal clerk who conducted the election within 90 days of the deadline to file the campaign financial statement.

The compliance audit committee will consider the application and decide whether to grant or reject the application. You may appeal the committee’s decision to the Superior Court of Justice within 15 days after the decision is made.

If the committee grants the application:

• It will appoint an auditor to conduct a compliance audit of your campaign finances
• The auditor is entitled to have access to all of the financial records related to your campaign
• The auditor will produce a report, which you are entitled to receive

The compliance audit committee will meet to consider the auditor’s report. If the report concludes that there is an apparent contravention of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 the committee will decide whether to commence legal action.

Please note: The compliance audit committee does not have any authority to set penalties. Only the court can decide if you contravened the Act and, if so, which penalties should apply.

Penalties

If you are convicted of an offence, you may be subject to the following penalties:

• A fine of up to $25,000
• Ineligibility to vote or run in the next general election
• Up to six months in prison
• Forfeiture of your elected office, if the judge finds that you committed the offence knowingly

Please note: If you are convicted of exceeding the spending limit, you may also be fined the amount by which you exceeded the limit.

There are rules for third-party advertising in Ontario’s municipal council and school board elections.

A third-party advertisement is an ad that supports, promotes, or opposes:

• A candidate
• A "yes" or "no" answer on the ballot

The meaning of “third-party” in this context means a person or entity who is not a candidate. Eligible individuals, corporations and trade unions can register to be third-party advertisers. Third-party advertising is separate from any candidate’s campaign and must be done independently from a candidate.

Third-party advertisers who want to spend money on advertisements during the election must register with the municipal clerk and must file a financial statement.

For more information about third-party advertising rules, including eligibility, spending limits and enforcement, see the Third-party advertisers’ guide.

In 2022, Collingwood hit a voter turnout of 39.67% at the close of polls on October 24!

Final Summary of Election Results
Town of Collingwood
Municipal Elections Act, 1996 (s.55(4)), the Act

I hereby certify that during the municipal election held on Monday, October 24, 2022 in accordance with Section 53(1) of the Act for the offices listed below, the certified candidates received the votes that follow their respective names: