Municipal government elections in Ontario are held every four years on the fourth Monday of October. The next Municipal and School Board Election will take place on October 26, 2026.
The voters' list is now compiled and administered by Elections Ontario. Please visit the Elections Ontario Website to make sure you are on the municipal and provincial voters' list.
Updates to the Voters' List
If you need to update your information on the Voters' List, you must complete an Application to Amend Voters' List Form and provide this completed form to the Office of the Clerk along with appropriate identification.
If you are a resident, owner or tenant of land in the Township, a Canadian citizen and at least 18 years of age, you can participate in the election process as a voter and, if interested, as a candidate. The Province of Ontario sets out common rules governing election processes that all voters and candidates must follow in the Municipal Elections Act.
Municipalities are individually responsible for conducting elections for their councils and for conducting the election of school trustees to Ontario's school boards.
The Township will be recruiting a limited number of people to work on Election Day - October 26, 2026.
The nomination period for the 2026 Municipal and School Board Elections is now closed. All nominations are unofficial until certified by the Clerk. The Clerk will certify or reject nominations by 4:00 pm on August 24, 2026, at which time the list of certified candidates will be published.
If you are a Canadian citizen, 18 years of age and an owner or tenant of land in the Township, you can become a candidate by filing Nomination Papers with the Clerk. Nomination Papers must be signed by the candidate and filed in person or by an agent, during regular office hours between Friday, May 1, 2026 and Thursday, August 20, 2026, and between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Friday, August 21, 2026 (Nomination Day). Although drop-ins will be accommodated as resources permit, appointments are recommended to ensure prompt completion of necessary filing paperwork. Please contact the Township Clerk or Deputy Clerk as detailed in the contact information on the lower left side of this page.
Nomination Forms:
*Please make an appointment to file nomination papers.
Nomination Paper - Form 1 (to be signed in front of the Clerk)
Endorsement of Nomination - Form 2
* It is strongly recommended that candidates exceed 25 signatures to ensure minimum requirements are met.
As set out under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, the following nomination filing fees apply:
Mayor – $200.00
Councillor – $100.00
Filing fees may be paid by cash, cheque or debit card.
Additional Resources:
Election Sign By-law
Use of Municipal Resources Policy
Niagara Region Sign By-law No. 122-2013
Province of Ontario Candidate's Guide
School Board Trustee Candidates
Candidates for School Board Trustee positions must file nominations with the municipality listed below:
- District School Board of Niagara (English Public School) - West Lincoln
- Niagara Catholic District School Board (English Separate School) - Fort Erie
- Conseil Scolaire Viamonde (French Public School) - Welland
- Conseil Scolaire Catholique Monavenir (French Separate School) - Welland
Candidates Information Night : Learn more about running in the 2026 Municipal Election
The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing will outline what candidates can expect and how to prepare for the upcoming municipal election.
Who should attend:
Niagara residents interested in running in the 2026 Municipal Election.
When:
Wednesday, April 29, at 6:00 p.m. (doors open at 5:00 p.m.)
Welland Community Centre,
145 Lincoln Street, Welland
Those unable to attend can watch the replay here.
Notice pending
In Wainfleet, eligible voters cast ballots for the following offices:
- Mayor: One (1) candidate to be elected at large to serve as the Head of the Council of the Township of Wainfleet and to also sit as a member on the Council of the Regional Municipality of Niagara.
- Councillors: Four (4) candidates to be elected at large by the eligible electors of the Township to sit as members of the Council of the Township of Wainfleet.
- District School Board of Niagara: One (1) Trustee to represent the English-Language Public School Electors in Wainfleet and West Lincoln.
- Niagara Catholic Distrcit School Board: One (1) Trustee to represent the English-Language Separate School Electors in Wainfleet, Fort Erie and Port Colborne.
- Conseil Scolaire Viamonde: One (1) Trustee to represent the French-Language Public School Electors in Wainfleet, Fort Erie, Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Pelham, Port Colborne, St. Catharines, Thorold and Welland. Nominations shall be filed with the Clerk of the City of Welland.
- Conseil Scolaire Catholique Monavenier: One (1) Trustee to represent the French-Language Separate School Electors in Wainfleet, Fort Erie, Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Pelham, Port Colborne, St. Catharines, Thorold and Welland. Nominations shall be filed with the Clerk of the City of Welland.
As in prior elections, Vote-by-Mail will be the sole voting method used for the 2026 Municipal Election.
Please review the Province of Ontario's 2026 Voters' Guide - Ontario Municipal Council and School Board Elections.
Do you need to change your information on the Voters' List?
If you are not on the Voters' List or wish to amend your information, you must complete the "Application to Amend Voters' List", Form EL15 to request an amendment to the Voters' List. Printed copies of Form EL15 are available at Town Hall. Form EL15s may be completed by electors on paper and mailed to the Clerk’s Office or returned in person, either by the elector or through an agent of the elector, at Town Hall. The Clerk may require the applicant to provide satisfactory proof of identity and eligibility to vote.
The Township of Wainfleet will be holding the 2026 Municipal Election on Monday, October 26, 2026. As in previous years, the election will be conducted through Vote-by-Mail and there will be no advance polls or proxy voting with our Vote-by-Mail Election.
What if I Get a Ballot for Someone Not at my Address?
If you receive a Vote-by-Mail Ballot Kit at your residence for someone who should not be there, please do not open the kit. It is actually a serious offense under the Criminal Code of Canada to open or use a ballot kit if you are not the intended addressee. Instead, simply write "RETURN" on the outside of the envelope and return it to the Township Offices at your earliest convenience (via return mail or drop-off). The information that we use for our Voters' List is provided to us by Elections Ontario.
Instructions for Completing Your Ballot Kit
For instructions on how to complete your return ballot package, you can also view Online Video: Instructions for Completing your Return Ballot Package here.
Note: Every returned Ballot must be accompanied by a signed voter Declaration Form. An unsigned or missing Declaration Form will result in a spoiled/rejected ballot. MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT! Return your Ballot (sealed in the provided Secrecy Envelope) along with your signed voter Declaration Form to the Township by 8:00 pm on October 26, 2026.
You don’t have to wait until Voting Day! Completed Ballot Kits may be personally delivered directly to the Township Offices anytime the offices are open (8:30 am – 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday) or in the after-hours mail drop box located at our front door. It doesn’t hurt to return your completed Ballot Kits early! And by personally delivering your completed kit - you can be assured that your vote will be counted.
Why are we using Vote-by-Mail?
- Ease and convenience for voters—you can vote in the comfort of your home and on your own time.
- It is an accessible way to vote for people with mobility issues.
- It enhances voter safety in a post-pandemic environment.
- You can vote even if you are away on Election Day.
- The Township of Wainfleet, along with many Ontario municipalities successfully conducted their municipal elections in 2022 using Vote-by-Mail - and this year, more and more municipalities are offering Vote-by-Mail.
Is Vote-by-Mail secure?
Vote-by-Mail is a double envelope system that protects the confidentiality of the voter. Just like your other bills and payments, your completed Ballot Kits (in sealed return envelopes) are processed through the Canada Post mail delivery network. When completed Ballot Kits are delivered to us, election staff use the signed voter declarations within the return envelopes to strike voters off the list as having voted. Sealed ballot secrecy envelopes are not opened though – they are separated from the voter declarations and securely stored until Voting Day, when the ballot secrecy envelopes will finally be opened and all ballot counting occurs. The privacy of your vote is assured. It is against the law to vote more than once for any elected office within the same municipality or school board.
If you are a Canadian citizen, 18 years of age and an owner or tenant of land in the Township, you can vote in the upcoming municipal and school board elections.
We all play a role in ensuring a fair electoral system, and it is the responsibility of every elector to make sure their information is up-to-date and accurately reflected for electoral purposes.
You can check if you're registered to vote in municipal elections through Elections Ontario.
If you need to update your information, please complete this form and visit the Office of the Clerk.
Ontario Regulation 304/13 under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, prescribes that the following documents (an original or a certified or notarial copy that shows the person's name and qualifying address) are acceptable as proof of identity and residence for election purposes.
Schedule 1
- An Ontario driver’s licence.
- An Ontario Health Card (photo card).
- An Ontario Photo Card.
- An Ontario motor vehicle permit (vehicle portion).
- A cancelled personalized cheque.
- A mortgage statement, lease or rental agreement relating to property in Ontario.
- An insurance policy or insurance statement.
- A loan agreement or other financial agreement with a financial institution.
- A document issued or certified by a court in Ontario.
- Any other document from the government of Canada, Ontario or a municipality in Ontario or from an agency of such a government.
- Any document from a Band Council in Ontario established under the Indian Act (Canada).
- An income tax assessment notice.
- A Child Tax Benefit Statement.
- A Statement of Employment Insurance Benefits Paid T4E.
- A Statement of Old Age Security T4A (OAS).
- A Statement of Canada Pension Plan Benefits T4A (P).
- A Canada Pension Plan Statement of Contributions.
- A Statement of Direct Deposit for Ontario Works.
- A Statement of Direct Deposit for Ontario Disability Support Program.
- A Workplace Safety and Insurance Board Statement of Benefits T5007.
- A property tax assessment.
- A credit card statement, bank account statement, or RRSP, RRIF, RHOSP or T5 statement.
- A CNIB Card or a card from another registered charitable organization that provides services to persons with disabilities.
- A hospital card or record.
- A document showing campus residence, issued by the office or officials responsible for student residence at a post-secondary institution.
- A document showing residence at a long-term care home under the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021, issued by the Administrator for the home.
- A utility bill for hydro, water, gas, telephone or cable TV or a bill from a public utilities commission.
- A cheque stub, T4 statement or pay receipt issued by an employer.
- A transcript or report card from a post-secondary school.
Prior to 2018, third party advertising was not regulated for municipal council and school board elections. Those who wanted to expend funds to advertise or distribute materials supporting or opposing a candidate did not have to identify themselves, were able to spend unlimited amounts of money and did not have to report their advertising or financial activities to anyone. The Municipal Elections Act, 1996, now includes a framework of rules for third party advertising.
Now, the Municipal Elections Act provides that an individual, corporation or trade union can register to become a third party advertiser. A third party advertiser can expend funds to support or oppose any candidate or candidates who will be voted on by the people in that municipality. This includes candidates running for local council, school trustee and candidates running for offices of an upper tier council.
If appropriately registered, Third Party Advertisers can also expend funds to support or oppose a question that is included on the ballot that will be voted on by the electors of a municipality.
Please review the Province of Ontario's 2026 third-party advertisers’ guide
- May 1, 2026 - Candidate nomination period opens. Nominations may be filed during regular business hours at the Township of Wainfleet Municipal Office, 31940 Highway 3. A person cannot raise or spend money on an election campaign until they have filed the nomination paperwork.
- August 21, 2026 - Nomination Day, candidate nomination period closes. Those interested in running as a candidate in the 2026 municipal election have until August 21, 2026 at 2 p.m. to file their nomination papers.
- October 26, 2026 - Election Day
- November 15, 2026 - New term of Council begins
Niagara’s local area municipalities, school boards and Niagara Region are once again forming a joint Election Compliance Audit Committee to consider requests for audits of campaign finances.
Experienced professionals are being recruited to form a roster of eligible members for appointment to the 2026-2030 Niagara Election Compliance Audit Committee. Further details will be available at Niagara Votes by the end of July.
2022 Municipal Election
The financial statements for the 2022 Municipal Election Candidates are available for viewing at the Township Municipal Office.
2018 Municipal Election
- Notice of Election
- List of Registered Third Party Advertisers
- Elections Summary Report
- Clerk's Compliance Report
2014 Municipal Election Results
- Mayor & Alderman
- English Public School Board
- English Separate School Board
- French Separate School Board