Municipal Elections
& By-Elections

Nomination Period : 

Nomination forms may be filed by candidates starting May 1, 2026 and on any day thereafter prior to Nomination Day when the Clerks Office is open ( Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.). Nomination day is August 21, 2026, nomination forms may be filed between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on this day. After 2:00 p.m. nominations can no longer be filed. All nominations must be made in person at the Township Office. 

Candidate Qualifications: 

A person is qualified to be elected to hold office, who, as of the day their nomination is filed is : 

• a Canadian Citizen;
• at least 18 years of age;
• a resident of the municipality, is the owner or tenant of land in the municipality, or the spouse of such a person; 
• not legally prohibited from voting;
• not disqualified for violation of financial requirements or violations or requirements for filing financial information;
• not disqualified by legislation from holding municipal office. 

Filing Fees:

• Filing fee for nomination to the position of Mayor is $200.00
• Filing fee for nomination of Councillor is $100.00
• Payment must be made in cash, cheque, debit or money order payable to the Township of Carling. 

• File a written Withdrawal of Nomination form, in-person, with the Clerk;
• Provide identification; and 
• File a financial statement by the deadline date, August 21, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.

Are You Entitled to Vote?

 A person is entitled to vote in a municipal election if on Voting  Day ( October 26, 2026), they; 

• Reside in the local municipality, or are the owner or tenant of land in the municipality, or the spouse of such owner or tenant; and 
• Are a Canadian citizen; 
• Are at least 18 years old or older; 
• Are not prohibited from voting under the Municipal Elections Act or otherwise prohibited by law. 

Persons Prohibited From Voting: 

• a person serving a sentence in a penal or correctional institution ( including a sentence served in the evenings or on weekends); 
• a corporation; 
• a person acting as executor or trustee or in any other respective capacity; 
• a person who has been convicted of corrupt practice described in s 90(3), if Voting Day in the current election is less than 5 years after Voting Day in the election in respect of which he or she was convicted.

Effective May 1, 2018, new rules have been placed on advertisements during municipal election periods. From May 1, 2026 to October 26, 2026, no paid advertisements can be made to support or oppose a candidate or  a question on the ballot for the municipal election unless that person is a registered candidate or registered third party advertiser. 

Who Can Register as a Third Party Advertiser? 

A registered third party advertiser is an individual, corporation, trade union, or other body that advertises to support or oppose a candidate or a question on the ballot for the municipal election. A registered third party is subject to many of the same requirements as that of a candidate, including filing registration papers, expense limits and financial statements, and other legislations and by-laws.

No election advertising outside of a candidate or registered third party is permitted.

A third party may register with the Clerk from May 1, 2026 to October 26, 2026. There is no registration fee for third party advertisers, but the Clerk must examine the registration, and then certify the notice of registration if deemed compliant, or reject the registration. 

The following are not permitted to register: 

• Municipal election candidates; 
• Federal and Provincial parties, constituency associations; 
• Registered candidates and leadership contestants;
• A Federal and Provincial government, municipality or local board. 

If third party advertisers what to advertise in more than one municipality, they will be required to register in each municipality. This includes newspaper publications that originate in one municipality but are delivered to multiple municipalities. 

For more information view the 2026 Third Party Advertisers’ Guide.

Township of Carling Clerks Procedures

eVoting Polices and Procedures  

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Website 

Municipal Elections Act, 1996

Association of Municipalities Ontario