To run for municipal Council, you must meet the following requirements:
For more detailed guidance, consult the Ontario Municipal Councillor’s Guide.
Nominations open Friday May 1, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. and close on Friday August 21, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. In order to run for Council or School Board Trustee in the 2026 Municipal Election, you must complete all forms within the Candidate Nomination Package prior to submission (with the exception of your signatures) along with proof of identification and the required filing fee. Candidates have until 2:00 pm on Nomination Day (Friday, August 21, 2026) to change office or withdraw a nomination. Once filed, candidate names will be posted on the Town website.
Candidates must book an in-person appointment with the Town Clerk in order to file nomination papers. To schedule an appointment, please email election@penetanguishene.ca or call 705-549-7453.
Campaigning cannot begin until nomination papers have been officially filed.
Below are the requirements for submission for the nomination of a position of Council (Mayor, Deputy Mayor or Councillor) for the Town of Penetanguishene.
Below are the requirements for submission for the nomination of a position of School Board Trustee any of the following offices:
| North Simcoe Candidate Training Session provided by MMHA at Bourgeois Community Centre in Midland | Tuesday April 7, 2026 at 6:00p.m. |
| North Simcoe Candidate Training Session provided by MMHA - Virtual | Tuesday April 21, 2026 at 6:00p.m. |
| Nomination Starts | Friday May 1, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. |
| Nomination Day (Deadline for nominations) | Friday August 21, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. |
| Certification of Nomination Papers | Monday August 24, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. |
| Election Signs may be erected | Monday August 31, 2026 |
| Voters' List Available | Tuesday September 1, 2026 |
| Voting Starts (Telephone and Internet) | Tuesday October 13, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. |
| Voting Day (Paper Ballot) | Monday October 26, 2026 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. |
| Declaration of Official Results | ASAP after Voting closes |
| Deadline to remove Election signs | Saturday October 31, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. |
| Term of Office Starts | Sunday November 15, 2026 |
| Inaugural Meeting of Council | Wednesday November 25, 2026 |
| Candidate Deadline to Submit Financial Report | Wednesday March 31, 2027 |
A third party advertisement refers to an advertisement in any broadcast, print, electronic or other medium that promotes, supports or opposes a candidate in the election, or, a "yes" or "no" answer to a question on the ballot.
Ontario residents, corporations and trade unions that will incur expenses for such advertisements must register as a third party advertiser with the Clerk before they can begin advertising. Registration to be a third party advertiser for the 2026 Municipal Elections will begin at 8:30 am on Friday, May 1, 2026 and end at 4:30 pm on Friday, October 23, 2026. Additional information regarding the registration process and requirements will be available in early 2026.
Only the following persons and entities are eligible to file a notice of registration:
Persons and entities that are not eligible to file a notice of registration include:
The Election Compliance Audit Committee reviews applications for compliance audits of the election campaign finances of candidates and registered third-party advertisers and considers report(s) from the Clerk on apparent contraventions of contribution limits.
Town of Penetanguishene
10 Robert Street West,
Penetanguishene, ON
L9M 2G2
T: 705-549-7453
F: 705-549-3743