Elections
2026 Municipal & School Board Elections
Ontario municipal elections give residents the opportunity to vote for the local representatives who make decisions about important community matters, including municipal services, budgets, roads, recreation, planning, and other local priorities. In the City of Pembroke, voters elect members of Council under Ontario’s Municipal Elections Act, 1996. The next Ontario municipal election will take place on Monday, October 26, 2026.
In Ontario, eligible voters may also vote for school board trustees. School board contests are separate from municipal Council races, and eligibility to vote for a particular school board depends on a voter’s school support designation.
This page will provide City of Pembroke residents with information about voter eligibility, key dates, candidate information, voting opportunities, and official election notices. Please check back regularly, as this page will be updated throughout the 2026 municipal election period.
For more information about municipal elections, who can vote, or who can run for Council:
Association of Municipalities of Ontario website
2026 Voters Guide - Ontario municipal council and school board elections
Municipal Elections - Ontario.ca
Register to Vote
You need to be on the voters' list to vote in a municipal council or school board election.
You can independently confirm, add, or update your personal information for the 2026 elections in Ontario by August 12, 2026 at RegisterToVoteOn.ca.
Registering to vote is the voter's responsibility and helps confirm that your name appears on the voters’ list for the Ontario municipal election. Ensuring you are on the voters' list ahead of time ensures you receive your voter's letter and makes for a smooth voting experience.
School Support Designations
Your school support designation helps determine which school board voters’ list you appear on for the municipal election.
In Ontario, MPAC (Municipal Property Assessment Corporation) collects and maintains this information and provides it to Elections Ontario for the Preliminary List of Electors.
Voters should review and update their school support designation, if needed, by June 1, 2026, to help ensure their information is correct for the October 26, 2026 election.
To learn more and/or review and update your school support, visit: www.mpac.ca
Notice of Nomination for Office
The Notice of Nomination for Office provides information for individuals seeking to run for municipal office in the City of Pembroke. It outlines the offices to be filled, the nomination period, filing requirements, applicable fees, and other rules under Ontario’s Municipal Elections Act, 1996. Prospective candidates should review the notice carefully before submitting nomination papers.
Information for Candidates
Candidate Registration
In order to register to become a candidate for Mayor, Councillor or School Board Trustee in the upcoming election, you must be:
- A Canadian citizen and at least 18 years old
- 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
- Not legally prohibited from voting; and not disqualified by any legislation from holding municipal office.
Candidates are also required to pay a fee as follows:
- $100 for Councillor, or School Trustee;
- $200 for Mayor
How to File Your Nomination
To run for office in the City of Pembroke, you must file an official Nomination Paper (Form 1). You cannot raise or spend campaign funds until your nomination has been filed.
Nomination papers must be filed in person by you or your agent with the Clerk’s Office at City Hall. Nominations may be filed between May 1, 2026 and August 21, 2026 during regular office hours. On Nomination Day, Friday, August 21, 2026, nominations will be accepted until 2:00 p.m.
You or your agent must provide identification when filing. Candidates are encouraged to book an appointment in advance.
What You Need to File
When filing your nomination, you must:
- complete the Nomination Paper (Form 1)
- complete the Endorsement of Nomination (Form 2), if required
- complete the Consent to Release Personal Information form
- provide proof of identity
- pay the required nomination fee:
- $200 for Mayor
- $100 for Councillor or School Board Trustee
Accepted payment methods are cash, debit, certified cheque, or money order.
Endorsement Signatures
Candidates for municipal Council must submit 25 original endorsement signatures with their nomination.
Each person endorsing a nomination:
- may endorse more than one candidate
- must be eligible to vote in the City of Pembroke on the date they sign the form
- The qualifying address provided must include the postal code.
- When an individual provides their signature as endorsement for a candidate, the form they are signing (Form 2) contains a declaration that the individual is eligible to vote in the municipality as of the day they sign the endorsement
- Candidates running for school board trustee are not required to submit endorsement signatures.
Important Information
Candidates are responsible for making sure all forms are complete and accurate. Do not sign any forms before filing your nomination.
All nominations are reviewed by the Clerk and must be certified before they are officially accepted.
A candidate may withdraw their nomination by filing written notice with the Clerk before 2:00 p.m. on August 21, 2026.
Nomination papers are public documents and may be viewed by the public.
Nomination fees will be refunded if the candidate files their campaign financial statement by the required deadline of March 30, 2027.
Withdraw Your Nomination
Here's how to withdraw your nomination papers:
- Withdraw your nomination in writing before 2 p.m. on Nomination Day (Friday, Aug. 21, 2026)
- Submit your withdrawal in person. You may need to show ID.
- Candidates who withdraw their nomination are still required to submit an initial financial statement by 2 pm on March 30, 2027, that covers all financial transactions up to the time of the withdrawal.
- A candidate who has already filed a nomination and wishes to run for a different office must submit a new nomination package for the new office by 2:00 p.m. on August 21, 2026. The new nomination must be filed in person by the candidate or their agent at the Clerk’s Office. Once the new nomination is filed, the candidate’s previous nomination is considered withdrawn
Candidate Resources
2026 Candidates' Guide - Ontario Municipal Council and School Board Elections
Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Election Resources
AMO - Supporting Your Run For Municipal Office in 2026 : Lead Where You Live