The Municipality of Meaford continues preparations for this year’s municipal and school board elections, and during council’s April 13 meeting, staff provided their third election update report to council.
This year’s municipal election will be held on October 26, and Meaford voters will have a ten-day window from October 16 through October 26, to cast their ballots.
“The next Municipal and School Board election is scheduled for October 2026. Based on previous Council direction, the Municipality of Meaford will be using internet and telephone voting, as previously done in the 2014 and 2018 elections,” staff advised council in their nine-page report.
Staff advised council that Help Centres will be established to assist voters throughout the voting period.
“Throughout the Voting period, staff will be available to support voters at designated Help Centres. At the help centres, staff will be able to respond to inquiries, update the voters’ list and issue voter information letters, if required. Individuals may also cast their ballots independently or request assistance from an Election Official if required,” staff advised in their report.
The help centres will be established in two locations, one in the west at the Sydenham Depot on Grey Road 11, and one in the east, tentatively planned for the Meaford Public Library.
“Staff will develop a schedule that offers around 60-70 hours of help centres with time split between both locations. This schedule will be advertised to the public and included in the voter information letter for reference including specific locations and hours,” staff advised in their report. “Staff also plan to have a ‘roving help centre’ that will coordinate times to attend attending institutions and retirement homes throughout the voting period. On election day, staff will be coordinating designated hours at Meaford Long-term Care and Brightshores Health System – Meaford Site.”
For those planning to have their name on the ballot for this year’s municipal election, the nomination period opens on Friday, May 1, and closes on Friday, August 21.
“Forms required for registering as a candidate or third party advertiser will be available mid-April on the municipal elections website and at the Municipal Office (21 Trowbridge Street West) during regular office hours. The nomination period opens on Friday, May 1, 2026, and runs through 2:00 p.m. on Friday, August 21, 2026. Public notice of the nomination process will be communicated through the Municipality of Meaford website, social media and other communication tools,” staff advised council. “The Returning Officer/Municipal Clerk or designate will review and certify all nomination papers by 4:00 p.m. on August 24, 2026. If at 4:00 p.m. on the Monday following nomination day, the number of certified candidates for an office is the same as the number to be elected, the Clerk shall immediately declare the candidate elected by acclamation. Should there not be any candidates registered for an office, the nomination period may be reopened to provide for additional nominations.”
As noted in the report, the campaign period begins the day a candidate files their nomination, though election signs cannot be used in the municipality until August 27. A candidate cannot incur any expenses outside of the campaign period.
“No expenses may be incurred, and no contributions may be accepted outside of the campaign period. Candidates will be provided with a general spending limit for their campaign when they file their nomination papers,” staff advised.
The new term of council will begin on November 15, and staff are planning for the inaugural meeting of the newly elected council to be held on Monday, November 16. The time and location have yet to be confirmed, though previous inaugural council meetings have been held in the opera house at Meaford Hall. Staff recommend that the event be held there again as it is larger and can accommodate more people than the council chamber.
