Election Frequently Asked Questions

Election Day is Monday, October 26, 2026.

Voters in the County of Brant will elect:

• Mayor
• Ward Councillors
• School Board Trustees

The new term of office begins November 15, 2026.

You may run for municipal office if you:

• Are a Canadian citizen
• Are at least 18 years old
• Reside in the County of Brant, own or rent property in the municipality, or are the spouse of an owner or tenant
• Are not legally prohibited from voting
• Are not disqualified by any legislation from holding municipal office

No. Candidates for councillor do not need to live in the ward they are seeking to represent, provided they are qualified electors within the municipality. The Mayor may reside anywhere within the municipality.

Nominations opened May 1, 2026 and close on August 21, 2026 at 2:00 pm

Nominations must be filed in person with the Clerk’s Office at the County of Brant.  Email election@brant.ca or phone 519.44BRANT (519.442.7268) to make an appointment. 

• Mayor: $200
• Councillor or School Board Trustee: $100

Yes. Candidates for Mayor or Councillor must submit at least 25 endorsement signatures from eligible electors within the municipality.

Yes. Candidates may withdraw their nomination before 2:00 p.m. on Nomination Day (August 21, 2026).

The Clerk will certify candidates by August 24, 2026. The Clerk will certify nominations as soon as possible, provided all required information is complete and correct.

You may begin campaigning only after filing your nomination papers.

No. Campaign contributions cannot be accepted before your nomination is filed.

Only individuals who are Ontario residents may contribute to municipal campaigns.

No. Corporate and union donations are prohibited in Ontario municipal elections.

Yes. Spending limits are established by the Clerk based on the number of electors and are provided to candidates after nominations are filed.

Candidates must report all:

• Contributions received
• Campaign expenses
• Goods and services donated
• Loans and liabilities

The deadline for filing campaign financial statements is March 26, 2027.

Failure to file by the legislated deadline may result in:

• Loss of office (if elected)
• Ineligibility to run in the next municipal election
• Financial penalties

No. Campaign signs must comply with County of Brant sign by-laws and any applicable provincial regulations.

Yes. Campaign advertising by candidates, including signs, should clearly identify the candidate or campaign responsible for the advertisement.

Section 88.3 of the Municipal Elections Act states: "An election campaign advertisement purchased by or under the direction of a candidate shall identify the candidate."

A Third Party Advertiser is an individual or organization registered with the Clerk to promote or oppose a candidate or issue independently from a candidate campaign.

No. Candidates cannot register as third party advertisers.

Yes. Incumbent members of Council may campaign for re-election but must follow the same election rules as all candidates.

Generally, yes, provided:

•      They are attending as members of the public, a candidate, or elected official and only act within that capacity

•      They do not disrupt the event

•      They comply with municipal policies regarding campaigning on municipal property

Yes. Social media may be used for campaign purposes and is considered campaign advertising, 

Regulations do apply when engaging on municipal platforms. Please refer to the Municipal Use of Corporate Resources policy, this can be found in the Candidate Information and Nomination Package

There is currently no prohibition on using AI-generated campaign content, though candidates remain responsible for the accuracy and legality of campaign materials.

Yes. The County of Brant hosted a Candidate Information Night on April 30, 2026 to provide information on nominations, campaign rules, finances, and election procedures. A video of this session is available online. 

Nomination packages are available online link to and through County customer service offices. 

The County maintains an official Certified Candidates page once nominations are certified.

You may vote in an Ontario Municipal and School Board election if you:

• Are a Canadian citizen
• Are at least 18 years old on Election Day
• Live in the County of Brant, OR own or rent property there
• Are not prohibited by law from voting

The County of Brant will use internet-based voting, including:

• Online voting
• Telephone voting

The system will be used for both advance voting and Election Day voting.

Eligible electors will receive a Voter Information Letter by mail, which will contain:

• A Voter Identification Number (VIN)
•  A PIN/password
• Instructions on how to vote online or by telephone

Voters will be able to securely cast their ballot from a computer, smartphone, tablet, or telephone.

Yes. The County of Brant will provide Voter Assistance Centres to help residents vote online if they:

• Need assistance
• Do not have internet access
• Require accessibility accommodations

Visit the Election Voting webpage for a complete list of Voter Assistance Locations and their hours of operation.

Yes. The County will provide internet-enabled devices at designated areas:

• The Paris and Burford Administrative Offices
• Libraries

County libraries and customer service offices will also provide access to devices and internet for online voting during their regular business hours.

No. The County of Brant Council has authorized internet and telephone voting as the primary voting methods for the 2026 Municipal Election.

Yes. Candidates may appoint scrutineers in accordance with the Municipal Elections Act and County procedures.

However, because voting is conducted electronically:

• Scrutineers cannot observe how an elector votes online or by phone
• Scrutineers may observe authorized election procedures, where permitted
• Scrutineers must follow all election conduct rules and electronic voting procedures established by the Clerk

Votes submitted through the online and telephone voting system are electronically tabulated through the approved election provider authorized by the County of Brant.

The County of Brant’s procedures state that:

1. The secrecy and confidentiality of the vote is paramount
2. The election should be fair and non-biased
3. The election should be accessible to all voters
4. The integrity of the process should be maintained
5. Results must accurately reflect the votes cast

The County of Brant will use secure electronic voting methods for the 2026 Municipal Election, including online and telephone voting.

Eligible voters will receive a Voter Information Letter (VIL) by mail before the voting period begins.

The VIL will include:

• Voting instructions
• A secure Voter Identification Number (VIN)
• Voting website and telephone voting information
• Information on Voter Assistance Locations for in-person voting

Voters will:

1. Visit the official election voting website
2. Enter their Voter Identification Number (VIN) and Date of Birth
3. Follow the instructions on-screen
4. Review and confirm their selections
5. Submit their ballot electronically

Once submitted, the vote is encrypted and securely recorded.

Voters may cast their ballot by telephone by:

1. Calling the official election voting number
2. Entering their Voter Identification Number (VIN) and Date of Birth
3. Following the automated prompts
4. Selecting candidates using the telephone keypad
5. Confirming and submitting their vote

Once submitted, the vote is encrypted and securely recorded.

No. Once a ballot has been submitted through the online or telephone voting system, it cannot be changed or re-cast.

Voters should contact the County of Brant Elections Office immediately. Election staff may verify voter identity and issue replacement credentials in accordance with election procedures. The PIN from the original Voter Information Letter will be disabled.

The County’s electronic voting system is designed to:

• Protect voter privacy
• Encrypt voting data
• Prevent duplicate voting
• Ensure vote secrecy
• Maintain election integrity

The voting platform is administered by the County’s authorized election service provider.

No. Campaigning and campaign materials are prohibited at voting assistance locations and within restricted election areas established by the Clerk.

Votes cast online and by telephone are securely tabulated electronically through the approved election voting system.

Unofficial results may be released after the close of voting, with official results declared by the Clerk in accordance with the Municipal Elections Act, 1996.

The Clerk has authority under the Municipal Elections Act to address technical disruptions or emergencies affecting the voting process.

In such an event, the County may:

• Extend voting hours
• Suspend voting temporarily
• Issue public notices and instructions
• Implement contingency procedures if required

Yes. The secrecy of the vote is protected under Ontario election law.

The voting system is designed so that:

• Votes cannot be linked back to individual voters
• Voting credentials remain confidential
• Only authorized election officials may access election administration systems

The voters’ list is the official list of eligible electors for the municipal election.

Your name must be on the voters’ list to receive voting credentials and participate in the election.

PLE commonly refers to the Preliminary List of Electors. This is the initial voters’ list prepared for municipalities before the election period begins. Ontario municipalities receive voter information through Elections Ontario’s register of electors.

The list includes eligible voters based on:

• Residency
• Property ownership or tenancy
• School support information
• Other elector registration information

School support determines which school board trustee election you can vote in.

In the County of Brant, electors may support:

• English Public
• English Catholic
• French Public
• French Catholic school boards

Elections Ontario has assumed responsibility for maintaining the provincial register used to create municipal voters’ lists. This was previously under the jurisdiction of MPAC. Municipal clerks use this information for the local elections.

Municipal voting eligibility is connected to residency and property ownership or tenancy.

You may qualify to vote in the County of Brant’s Municipal and School Board Election if you:

• Own property in the County
• Rent property in the County
• Are the spouse of a property owner or tenant

This information helps determine:

• Your voting eligibility
• Your ward
• Your school board support designation

You should check your information if:

• You recently moved
• Your name changed
• You turned 18
•  You are a new property owner or tenant
• You did not vote in the last municipal election
• You did not receive a Voter Information Letter

Before August 13th 2026, voters may update information through Elections Ontario’s voter registration system.

After August 13th, 2026, requests to add or correct voter information must be made through the municipal Clerk’s Office. See contact information at the end of this FAQ.

Voters may need to provide:

• Proof of identity
• Proof of address
• Proof of qualifying residency or property ownership

What identification is accepted?

Acceptable identification generally includes documents showing your name and qualifying address, such as:

• Ontario driver’s license
• Ontario Photo Card
• Utility bill
• Lease agreement
• Mortgage statement
• Government-issued correspondence
• Photo ID is not always required.

If you are not on the list:

• You may not receive your Voter Information Letter
• You may still be able to add yourself before voting closes
•  Additional verification may be required

The Clerk’s Office can assist eligible electors with voter list revisions.

You should update your information as soon as possible to ensure:

• You receive the correct ballot
• You vote in the proper ward
• You receive the correct school board ballot

Yes. Certified candidates may receive copies of the voters’ list in accordance with the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 and election procedures. The use of voter information is strictly regulated and may only be used for election purposes.

Certain voter information may be available to:

• Certified candidates
• Election officials
• Authorized persons under the Municipal Elections Act

However, voting choices remain confidential and protected by law.

Contact the County of Brant Elections Office immediately to:

• Confirm your voter registration
• Update your information if necessary
• Request assistance with obtaining voting credentials