Elections

To vote in a municipal election, you must:

• Be a Canadian citizen and at least 18 years old.
• Be qualified to vote in the municipality by:
  • living in the municipality, or
  • owning or renting property in the municipality, or
  • being the spouse of somebody who owns or rents property in the municipality.
• Not be prohibited from voting according to Section 17 of the Municipal Elections Act (MEA).

Note: property must be personally owner or rented to vote in that municipality. Properties owned by a business or trust do not qualify.

University and College Students:

• Section 2 (2.1) of the MEA allows post-secondary students to vote in both the municipal election where they are attending school and the municipal election in their "home" municipality, provided they are residing in another municipality to attend a post-secondary institution and intend to return to their "home" municipality at the conclusion of their studies.

To run as a candidate in a municipal election, you must:

• Be a Canadian citizen and at least 18 years old.
• Be qualified to vote in the municipality by:
  • living in the municipality, or
  • owning or renting property in the municipality, or
  • being the spouse of somebody who owns or rents property in the municipality.
• Not be prohibited from holding municipal office according to Section 29 of the MEA.

Nominations for the 2026 election open on Friday, May 1, 2026.

Voters need to have a Voter Information Letter in order to vote.

Identification is required when you vote. You will need to show ID which contains your name and address. You may have to show two pieces of ID to accomplish this.

Please bring an original or certified/notarized copy of any of the following documents:

• Ontario driver’s licence
• Ontario Health Card (photo card)
• Ontario Photo Card
• Ontario motor vehicle permit (vehicle portion)
• cancelled personalized cheque
• mortgage statement, lease or rental agreement relating to property in Ontario
• insurance policy or insurance statement
• loan agreement or other financial agreement with a financial institution
• 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 or such a government
• any document from a Band Council in Ontario established under the Indian Act (Canada)
• income tax assessment notice
• child tax benefit statement
• statement of employment insurance benefits paid T4E
• statement of old age security T4A (OAS)
• statement of Canada Pension Plan benefits T4A (P)
• Canada Pension Plan statement of contributions
• statement of direct deposit for Ontario Works
• statement of direct deposit for Ontario Disability Support Program
• Workplace Safety and Insurance Board statement of benefits T5007
• property tax assessment
• credit card statement, bank account statement, or RRSP, RRIF, RHOSP or T5 statement
• CNIB Card or a card from another registered charitable organization that provides services to persons with disabilities
• hospital card or record
• document showing campus residence, issued by the office or officials responsible for student residence at a post-secondary institution
• document showing residence at a long-term care home under the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007, issued by the Administrator for the home
• utility bill for hydro, water, gas, telephone or cable TV or a bill from a public utilities commission
• cheque stub, T4 statement or pay receipt issued by an employer
• transcript or report card from a post-secondary school

As a Canadian citizen and community member of the Municipality of Lakeshore, voting is both your right and your responsibility.  

The candidates elected to Council are responsible for making important decisions that affect residents daily lives. Voting for these positions gives you a say in the direction the Municipality will take on services such as:  

• Community planning 
• Water and wastewater management 
• Fire services 
• Recreation, Facilities, Parks and Trails 
• Building and development 
• Municipal bylaws 

School board trustees are elected to make decisions and provide a local perspective on budgets, policies and facilities within the school system.  

By voting, you have the opportunity to help choose leaders whose decisions will shape the future of our communities. 

If your name is on the voters’ list, you will receive a voter notification card from the Municipality in the mail. These will be sent out in September 2026. Your card will show your voting days and selected voting locations.

Bring your voter notification card with you to vote. It will speed up the time it takes you to vote.