Voter Information

Election Information

On October 26, 2026, residents and property owners will be able to cast their vote in the Municipal and School Board Elections from anywhere with internet access or telephone service. This means residents will have the ability to vote from the comfort of their own home, on-the-go, at the Municipal Office, or at the Voter Assistance Centres.

Eligible voters (residents and property owners) will elect several different positions including:

  • Mayor (elected at-large);
  • Deputy Mayor (elected at-large);
  • Arran Ward Councillor
  • Chesley Ward Councillor
  • Elderslie Ward Councillor
  • Paisley Ward Councillor
  • Tara Ward Councillor
  • School Board Trustees

Once elected, members of Council serve a 4-year term. The current term of Council began in November 2022, and the next term of Council will commence in November 2026..

Visit RegisterToVoteON.ca today to confirm you are on the voter's list, update information, or add yourself to the list. Your voice is important, make sure you are on the list and register to vote!

Mayor

Name of Candidate Date Filed Contact Information
Steve Hammell May 21, 2026

Address: 335 Concession 2 Arran, Dobbinton, ON  N0H 1L0

Phone: 519-379-8063

Email: stevehammell@rocketmail.com

     

Deputy Mayor

Name of Candidate Date Filed Contact Information
Jennifer Shaw June 8, 2026

Address: 147 Mill Rd, Tara, ON N0H 2N0

Phone: 226-647-1442

Email: jennifer_christie@live.ca

     

Arran Ward Councillor

Name of Candidate Date Filed Contact Information
Ryan Nickason May 14, 2026

Address: 21 Thomas St, Allenford, ON  N0H 1A0

Phone: 519-270-3890

Email: nickason3206@gmail.com

     

Elderslie Ward Councillor

Name of Candidate Date Filed Contact Information
Alicia Mariano July 20, 2026

Address: 3507 Bruce Road 3, Paisley, ON N0G 2N0

Phone: 519-387-1495

     

Chesley Ward Councillor

Name of Candidate Date Filed Contact Information
     
     

Paisley Ward Councillor

Name of Candidate Date Filed Contact Information
David Stone May 7, 2026

Address: 359 Balaklava Street, Paisley, ON  N0G 2N0

Phone: 519-761-0202

Email: davidxstone1@gmail.com

Heidi Maxwell May 25, 2026

Address: 2862 Bruce Road 3, Paisley, ON  N0G 2N0

Phone: 519-353-3194

Email: heidi.maxwell@bmts.com

Patricia Wright May 11, 2026

Address: 97 Albert Street, Paisley, ON N0G 2N0

Phone: 519-372-7949

Email: trisha@clearpointmediation.com

Tara Ward Councillor

Name of Candidate Date Filed Contact Information
     
     

School Board Trustee - Bluewater District School Board

Name of Candidate Date Filed Contact Information
Katie Lutz May 19, 2026

Address: Port Elgin

Email: katielutzfortrustee@gmail.com

     

School Board Trustee - Bruce-Grey Catholic District School Board

Name of Candidate Date Filed Contact Information
Lucie Desbiens May 4, 2026

Address: 951 Wellington Street, Port Elgin, ON  N0H 2C3

Email: ldesbiens1956@gmail.com

     

School Board Trustee - Conseil Scolaire Viamonde

Name of Candidate Date Filed Contact Information
Eric Lapointe May 1, 2026

Phone: 705-241-8909

Email: ericlapointe@yahoo.com

     

Who is eligible to vote?

To be an eligible elector in the Municipality of Arran-Elderslie, on Election Day you must be:

  • A Canadian Citizen; and
  • At least 18 years of age; and
  • A resident of the Municipality of Arran-Elderslie, or the owner or tenant of land in the Municipality of Arran-Elderslie, or
  • the spouse of an owner or tenant; and
  • Not prohibited from voting under any law.

Visit RegisterToVoteON.ca today to confirm you are on the voter's list, update information, or add yourself to the list. Your voice is important, make sure you are on the list and register to vote!

Eligible voters are welcome to attend the following Voter Assistance Centres to:

  • Ask questions
  • Register to vote
  • Get voting assistance
  • Vote independently

Monday, October 19, 2026 

10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Municipal Office 

1925 Bruce Road 10, Chesley 

Tuesday, October 20, 2026 

10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Municipal Office 

Wednesday, October 21, 2026 

10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Municipal Office 

Thursday, October 22, 2026 

10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Municipal Office 

Friday, October 23, 2026 

10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Municipal Office 

Saturday, October 24, 2026 

10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 

Municipal Office 

Saturday, October 24, 2026 

10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 

Tara Firehall 

72 Yonge St N, Tara 

Saturday, October 24, 2026 

10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 

Paisley Firehall 

382 Goldie St, Paisley 

Monday, October 26, 2026 

10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. 

Municipal Office 

Understanding Ontario Regulation 304/03, Voter Identification from the Municipal Elections Act, 1996

For more detailed information of this regulation, please visit O. Reg. 304/13 VOTER IDENTIFICATION | ontario.ca

What this regulation is for

This regulation specifies the identification people need to vote in a municipal election. 

In short: when you go to vote, you must show proof of your identity and where you live.

What kind of ID works

You need to bring one document that shows both:

  • your name
  • your qualifying residential address (where you live or the address that qualifies you as a voter)

This document must be original, or a properly certified copy.

Examples of acceptable documents

Some of the many types of documents you can use include: 

  • An Ontario driver’s licence
  • Ontario Photo Card or Ontario Health Card (if it shows name + address)
  • Ontario motor vehicle permit (the portion listing address)
  • A cancelled personalized cheque
  • A mortgage statement, lease or rental agreement for a property in Ontario
  • A utility bill — for example, electricity, water, gas, phone or cable/tv bill
  • A bank or credit card statement, or other financial statements (for example, savings account, RRSP, etc.)
  • A document issued by a government body (Canadian, Ontario, or municipal) that shows your name & address
  • A notice of property-tax assessment
  • Government benefit statements (like for pension, disability support, etc.)
  • A document showing residence in a long-term care home, student residence, or an institution (if applicable)

Because the list is long, many different types of “official” or “formal” documents can work — as long as the document shows your name and correct address.

What happens if you don’t have acceptable ID

If you don’t have one of the accepted documents, there’s another option: you can fill out a “Declaration of Identity” form. That can still allow you to vote.

Why this matters

  • The rule helps make sure only eligible people — people who can prove they are who they say they are, and who really live (or qualify) at the address they claim — get to vote.
  • It helps keep municipal elections fair and legitimate.
  • Because the regulation accepts many kinds of documents (not only photo ID), it gives flexibility — people can use common bills or official documents, not just a driver’s licence or passport.

To ensure your correct school support designation is provided to Elections Ontario, it should be reviewed and updated before June 1, 2026. Whether you own or rent your home, your property is linked to a school board, even if you do not have children attending school. To learn more about school support designations visit Municipal Property Assessment Corporation.

This document explains the security, privacy, and reliability measures used to protect online and telephone voting during municipal elections. It outlines how voter information is safeguarded, ballots remain secret, and election integrity is maintained.

Frequently Asked Questions

Even if you've lived here all your life and have voted before, you may not be on the current Voters' List. The Municipality is recommending for everyone to confirm their voter registration, you can do so at RegisterToVoteON.ca

Your voice is important, make sure you are on the list and register to vote!

 

Internet & telephone voting are the voting methods for the 2026 Municipal Election. You will be able to cast your vote from the comfort of your home or anywhere you can access the internet or a telephone, including at the Voter Assistance Centres.

Voters need to have a Voter Information Letter in order to vote. This will be mailed to you in October. This letter will have your instructions and your unique Personal Identification Number, required to log into the internet election site or onto the telephone election platform.

If you do not receive a Voter Information Letter in October, please visit the Municipal Office with identification to confirm your registration status and receive your letter.

To view a listing of acceptable identification, please see the Voter ID Information tab above.

Voter Information Letters will be mailed out in October. The letter will have voting instructions and your unique PIN to log in to the election site or telephone election platform.

Voters can use any device that connects to the internet, including computers, tablets, and smartphones. Voters can also use touch-tone telephones. Rotary phones may not be used.

There will be no paper ballots for this election.

Voter Assistance Centres

Election staff will be available to assist voters at Voter Assistance Centres during the voting period.

Accessibility

Internet and telephone voting enables voters with accessibility requirements to vote with little or no assistance from others. Persons with accessibility requirements can use either telephone or internet voting without being required to leave their home, or can attend an Voter Assistance Centre to vote with assistance.

Important Dates

  • Nomination Period: Friday, May 1, 2026 (8:30am) to Friday, August 21, 2026 (2:00pm)
  • Third Party Registration: Monday, May 1, 2026 (8:30am) to Friday, October 23, 2026 (4:30pm)
  • Deadline for Withdrawal of Nominations: Friday, August 21, 2026 (2:00pm)
  • Voting Period: Voting begins on October 19, 2026 (10:00am) until Election Day
  • Voter Assistance Centres Open: Saturday, October 24, 2026 (10:00am to 1:00pm) at the Municipal Office, Tara Firehall, and Paisley Firehall
  • Election Day: Monday, October 26, 2026 (ends at 8:00pm)