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.
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)
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.
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 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