Municipal Election
Municipal Elections in Ontario are held every four years on the fourth Monday of October. The next municipal election will be held Monday, October 26th, 2026. Under the Municipal Elections Act, the four-year term of office for the current council and school board trustees began November 14th, 2022 and ends November 14th, 2026.
The next municipal election will be held October 26, 2026. Bluewater will vote using internet and telephone.
For information regarding Municipality of Bluewater's current council, please see our council page.
Unofficial list of candidates
As candidates file their nominations, the unofficial list of candidates will be updated and posted to this webpage. A candidate's campaign period begins once the Clerk has received their nomination. Nominations will remain unofficial until the Clerk certifies the nominations following the close of the nomination period.
Who can vote?
If you are a resident, owner or tenant of property in Ontario, a Canadian citizen and 18 years of age or older on the day of the Election, you can vote in Ontario’s municipal and school board elections.
Your name must be on the voters list for the Municipality of Bluewater as a resident or non-resident elector to vote in the 2026 municipal election.
Visit the Elections Ontario website to check if you are on the voters list, register to vote, or update your information online until August 12. After September 1st, all changes must be made through the municipal office.
Voter information letters with voting access information will be mailed to registered voters in September.
The 2026 Voters' Guide published by the Province of Ontario is a comprehensive guide for voters in Ontario.
The following documents are accepted as proof of identity and residence per O.Reg. 304/13:
- 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
Who can run for Council?
To run for Bluewater Council, you must be eligible to vote in Bluewater.
On the day you file your nomination, you must be:
- A Canadian citizen and at least 18 years of age
- A resident of the municipality, or the owner or tenant of land in the Municipality, or the spouse of such a person
- Not prohibited from voting
- Not disqualified from holding office (i.e. no financial violations from previous elections, not prohibited by any legislation)
- Not disqualified under the provisions as outlined in the Municipal Elections Act.
The nomination period opens May 1st and closes August 21st, 2026 at 2 p.m.
Download and print the nomination package, gather the required signatures, and sign the required forms. Nominations are accepted from May 1st until August 21st at 2 p.m.
Packages are also available from the Municipal Office, 14 Mill Ave, Zurich, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
If you do not want to print the entire package, you can print individual forms that require signatures.
- Welcome letter and check list
- Nomination Paper - Form 1
- Endorsement of Nominations - Form 2
- Declaration of Qualifications - Form BW65
- Consent to Release Personal Information - Form BW02
- Proper Use of the Voters List - Form BW10
- Notice of Penalties - Form BW31
- Financial Statement - Auditor's Report Candidate - Form 4 (for after the election)
When you are ready to file your nomination, make an appointment with the Clerk. Please come to the office prepared to pay the filing fee with cash, cheque or debit (Mayor-$200, all other positions-$100).
The 2026 Candidates' Guide-Ontario published by the Government of Ontario is a comprehensive document explaining everything required to run for municipal council.
Please review this document if you are thinking about running for municipal council.
These resources provide valuable information for individuals thinking about running for municipal council.
Third-party advertising
Third-party advertising is a paid message placed in any medium (broadcast, print or electronic) by an individual (other than the nominated candidate), corporation, or trade union, that supports or opposes a candidate for council, mayor or a school board.
Third-party advertisers must register with the Clerk to advertise during a municipal election. Third-party advertisers may register until the close of business on Friday, October 23, 2026.
Anyone considering registering as a third-party advertiser is encouraged to read the Ontario Third-Party Advertising Guide. Questions about third-party advertising can be directed to the Clerk.
The restricted advertising period in which third parties must be registered to advertise is May 1, 2026 until the close of voting on October 26, 2026.
Who can register as a third-party advertiser?
Individuals, corporations and trade unions in Ontario can register as third-party advertisers and can also make contributions to third-party advertisers. Third-party advertising must be done independently of candidates.
Broadcasters or publishers who wish to conduct third-party advertising must register as a third-party advertiser and follow the requirements of the Municipal Elections Act.
There is no restriction against family members or campaign staff of candidates registering to be third-party advertisers. Third-party advertising must not be done under the direction of a candidate.
Who cannot register as a third-party advertiser?
Candidates cannot register as a third-party advertiser and cannot provide direction to a third-party advertiser.
Groups, associations or businesses that are not corporations are not eligible to register and may not spend money on third-party advertising in municipal elections.
Federal and provincial political parties, constituency associations, registered candidates and leadership contestants as well as federal and provincial governments, municipalities, or local board cannot register.
What is not considered third-party advertising
Activities that do not involve incurring expenses (i.e. discussions or expressing an opinion about a candidate) are not considered third-party advertising. Other examples include:
- Speaking with friends and neighbours
- Posting on social media
- Sending an email to a group or mailing list
- Advertising about an issue that is not about a candidate or a question on a ballot
A comprehensive third-party advertising guide is available from the Province of Ontario.
Forms are available for download from our website. Packages may also be picked up in-person at the municipal office, 14 Mill Ave, Zurich, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
To register, contact the Clerk to set up an appointment to submit your package. Third-party advertisers may register up until the close of business on Friday, October 23, 2026.
- Form 7 - Notice of registration
- BW52 - Declaration of qualifications - Third-party advertiser
- BW61 - Duties of registered third parties
- BW02a - Consent to release personal information
- Form EL42 - Notice to registered third party of filing requirement
- BW58 - Estimated maximum third-party expenses
- Form EL51B - Estimated certificate of maximum amount of expenses for parties, etc.
- BW53 - Contributions to registered third parties
- Form 8 - Financial statement - Auditors report third party
Key dates
The following list identifies key dates in the 2026 municipal election cycle.
- Now until August 12—Register to vote or update voter information online through Elections Ontario
- May 1—Candidate nomination period opens
- June 1—Deadline to update school support designation with MPAC.
- August—Preliminary List of Electors delivered to municipalities by Elections Ontario
- August 21—Nomination Day—Deadline to file candidate nomination papers or to withdraw nominations
- August 24—Deadline for Clerk to certify nominations
- August 27—Deadline for Clerk to declare any candidates elected by acclamation
- September—Voter information letters mailed to registered voters
- September 1 to October 26—Revisions to voters list can be made by contacting the municipal office. Any revisions prior to September 1, can be made through the Elections Ontario website.
- October 13—Advance voting opens (internet and phone)
- October 23—Deadline to register as a third-party advertiser (close of business)
- October 26—Election Day
- November 15—Beginning of 2026–2030 term of office
Key dates will be updated throughout the election cycle as more dates are finalized.
Updates during the 2026 municipal election cycle will be shared by the Municipality through our website, social media platforms, and newsletters.
Questions about the municipal election can be directed to the Corporate Services department.
Municipality of Bluewater
14 Mill Avenue
ZURICH, ON
N0M 2T0
Phone: 519-236-4351
or 1-877-236-4351
Fax: 519-236-4329
Send an Email