🗳️ MELANCTHON VOTES 2026 – ADVANCE VOTING IS NOW OPEN!

Advance Voting for the 2026 Municipal and School Board Elections is officially underway!

✅ Vote anytime, anywhere! Cast your ballot online or by phone using your own device anytime between now and 8:00 p.m. on Monday, October 26, 2026 (Election Day).

📍 NEED HELP VOTING?

A Voter Help Centre is available at the Township Office, located at 157101 Highway 10, where Staff can assist you with the voting process.

🕒 Voter Help Centre Hours:

📅 Friday, October 16, 2026
🕙 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

📅 Monday, October 19 – Friday, October 23, 2026
🕣 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

📅 Monday, October 26, 2026 – ELECTION DAY
🕣 8:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

📬 Haven’t received your Voter Identification Letter?

Your letter contains the PIN you need to vote. If you have not received it, please contact the Township Office at 519-925-5525.

Your vote matters! Make your voice heard and take part in the 2026 Municipal and School Board Elections.

🗳️ MELANCTHON VOTES 2026 – LEARN HOW TO VOTE!

Voting in the 2026 Municipal Election begins soon! Are you ready?

💻📱 Vote Online or by Telephone!

Please click here to view the instructional video to show you how to cast your vote online or by telephone.

📅 Voting Opens: Friday, October 16, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.
⏰ Voting Closes: Monday, October 26, 2026, at 8:00 p.m.

Take a few minutes to watch the video so you know what to expect when it’s time to vote!

Your vote matters! Make sure your voice is heard!

October 8, 2026 – Voter Information Letters (VIL) have been arriving in mailboxes this week! Keep an eye out for yours!

The VIL contains the information you need to cast your ballot in the 2026 Municipal and School Board Elections. Your VIL is required to vote, whether you choose to vote by internet or telephone. DO NOT THROW THIS OUT!

If you do not receive your VIL by October 15th (voting begins on Friday, October 16 at 10:00 a.m., until 8:00 p.m. on October 26, 2026) please contact the office at 519-925-5525.

🗳️ ARE YOU ON THE VOTERS’ LIST?

A preliminary list of eligible voters has been prepared! ✅

Want to check if you’re on the list?
📞 Call the Township of Melancthon at 519-925-5525

❓ Not on the list or is your information incorrect?

You can complete an application at the Municipal Office or find the application here.

⚠️ Applications must have an original signature, and the Clerk may require proof of identification or elector qualification.

📞 Not sure what documents you need? Give us a call at 519-925-5525.

✨ Check the list. Make sure you’re ready to vote! 🗳️

Township of Melancthon, Notice of Election Information

Municipal Elections Act, 1996 (s. 40)

Municipal Elections in the Township of Melancthon for the following offices will be held on Monday, October 26^th, 2026:                                   

Municipal Council Offices

Mayor                   One (1) to be elected

Councillor            Three (3) to be elected

 School Board Trustees

 French Public – Conseil scolaire Viamonde – One (1) to be elected

ALL VOTING IN THE TOWNSHIP OF MELANCTHON MUNICIPAL ELECTION WILL TAKE PLACE BY TELEPHONE OR INTERNET VOTING

Eligible voters will receive a voter instruction letter by mail outlining details on how to vote.  This letter will provide voters with their Personal Identification Number (PIN) for access to the electronic voting system.  The letter will also provide voters with the website to vote by internet and the phone number to vote by telephone.  Check your mail in late September/early October.

Voting Period: Telephone and internet voting is available 24 hours a day from: Friday, October 16, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. to Monday, October 26, 2026 at 8:00 p.m.

A Voter Help Centre will be available to the public at the Township Office, 157101 Highway 10, Melancthon for your voting convenience or if you require assistance to vote on the following dates and times:  Friday, October 16, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday, October 19 to Friday, October 23, 2026 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Monday, October 26, 2026 (Voting Day) from 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Accessibility: It is the goal of the Township of Melancthon to ensure that all Electors who have a disability or an issue with accessibility are provided with the best opportunity to vote as independently as possible in the 2026 Municipal Election.

Residents requiring assistance and/or accommodations to vote are encouraged to contact the Clerk’s Office (519) 925-5525 Ext 101 or dh*****@****************ip.ca by October 5, 2026.  The Township of Melancthon Municipal Election Accessibility Plan 2026 is available on the Township’s website under Election 2026.

Voting Proxies: Voting proxies will not be granted for this election.  Voters can vote by internet anywhere there is internet access, using a computer or device that is capable of connecting to the internet, or by telephone from anywhere in Canada or the continental United States using either a home phone or mobile phone.

Call or visit the Clerk’s Office at Melancthon Township Office to ensure you are on the voters’ list and your information is correct.

Dated this 2^nd day of September 2026.

Denise B. Holmes, Clerk/Returning Officer

157101 Highway 10

Melancthon, ON, L9V 2E6

L9V 2E6

(519) 925-5525 Ext 101

dh*****@****************ip.ca

Municipal Election Accessibility Plan 2026

The Accessibility Plan will address the specific accessibility requirements in relation to the 2026 Municipal Election in the Township of Melancthon.

The Township of Melancthon has made great efforts in promoting a barrier free community. In an effort to ensure that the 2026 Municipal Election is consistent with the core principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, this planning document was developed in advance of the election in order to identify measures to be taken and reported to Council following the election.

Click here to review the Plan.

CERTIFIED CANDIDATES FOR THE 2026 MUNICIPAL AND SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION

Certified List of Candidates

Declaration of Acclamation to Office

Town of Mono – Upper Grand District School Board Trustee – Declaration of Acclamation to Office 

City of Brampton – Conseil Scolaire Catholique MonAvenir Trustee – Declaration of Acclamation of Office

Certified List of School Board Candidates – Conseil Scolaire Viamonde – French Public

List of Candidates Who Have Filed Nominations Papers

Mayor

Darren White, 519-278-8234, tr**********@***oo.ca, 682378 260 Sideroad, Melancthon, ON, L9V 2N1- filed May 1, 2026

Ruth Plowright, 519-942-6333, ru******@***il.com, Facebook Page: Ruth Plowright for Mayor – filed August 20, 2026

Deputy Mayor

James McLean, ja************@***il.com, filed May 4, 2026 (ACCLAIMED)

Councillor

Bill Neilson, 519-215-0207, bn**********@***il.com, 238135 4th Line NE, Melancthon, – filed May 1, 2026

Nancy Malek, 519-925-0591, be************@****rs.com, 108 Main Street, Melancthon, ON, L9V 1X6 – filed May 1, 2026

Shaen Armstrong, 647-637-1898, sh************@***il.com, 537280 Main Street, Melancthon, ON, L9V 1X8, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CvaAogrgh/, LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaen-armstrong-a8b87041 – filed May 4, 2026

Keenan Kovacs, 519-806-5828, ke******@***il.com, 097256 4th Line SW, Melancthon, ON, L9V 2C1 – filed May 12, 2026

Bashir Ahmmed, 416-219-1739, ba***********@***il.com, 517003 County Road 124, Melancthon, Ontario, L9V 1V4 – filed May 14, 2026

Mardi-An Ziegler, 519-943-6640, ma************@*****il.com, 478133 3rd Line, Melancthon, Ontario, L9V 1T7 – filed July 28, 2026

Kait DeVore, 905-691-7156, ka********@***il.com – filed August 18, 2026

David Miller, 519-217-6640, se***********@***oo.com, 097545 4th Line SW, Melancthon, Ontario, L9V 2C2 – filed August 20, 2026

Bryan Lemcke, 519-942-7777 – filed August 20, 2026

Jim Hillis, hi********@***il.com – filed August 20, 2026

Conseil Scolaire Viamonde – Trustee (French Public)

Eric Lapointe, 705-241-8909, er**********@***oo.com, Barrie – filed May 1, 2026

Rachael Golem, 647-884-3044, al**@**********em.ca , Orangeville, Website: www.rachaelgolem.ca Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/RachaelPourViamonde – filed August 7, 2026

Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board Trustee (English Separate)

Paula Dametto-Giovannozzi, 416-570-5087, pa*********************@***il.com, 6 Hunstmill Dr., Caledon, ON, L7C 0A3 – filed May 1, 2026 (ACCLAIMED)

Upper Grand District School Board (Trustee) – (English Public)

Mike Johnson – Withdrawn on August 19, 2026

Bernie Karsch, 519-925-9254 & 519-939-9727, bk*******@*****ok.com, filed August 7, 2026 (ACCLAIMED)

Conseil Scolaire Catholique MonAvenir

Genevieve Grenier, 416-571-7407, gg********@***oo.ca, filed July 17, 2026 (ACCLAIMED)

Seeking Members for the Joint Compliance Audit Committee

Dufferin County is seeking members for a recently established Joint Compliance Audit Committee as per the Municipal Elections Act, Section 88.37. The Committee is responsible for reviewing compliance audit applications submitted by an elector who believes on rea-sonable grounds that a candidate or third-party advertiser has contravened the provisions of the Municipal Elections Act relating to campaign or advertising finances. The Committee will be responsible for reviewing applications for all eight Dufferin municipalities.

Committee membership will be drawn from the following groups:
• Accounting and audit – accountants or auditors, preferably with experience in preparing or auditing the financial statements of municipal candidates;
• Academic – college or university professors with expertise in political science or local government administration;
• Legal; and
• Other individuals with knowledge of the campaign financing provisions of the Act.

To view the complete Terms of Reference, and the application, please visit the County’s website at: www.dufferincounty.ca/council/advisory-committees/#jcac

Applications are available online at the link above until July 16, 2026. Questions can be sent to in**@************ty.ca.

AMO’s Free Campaign Readiness Workshops

As Ontario prepares for the October 2026 municipal elections, AMO is offering a dynamic lineup of information sessions and workshops to support aspiring candidates and current elected officials.

Whether you’re planning your first campaign, seeking re-election, representing an underrepresented community, or stepping forward as a young candidate, these programs are designed to meet you where you are—and help you move forward with confidence.

Thinking of Running for Council…..Now What?  A Reflection Guide for Prospective Municipal Candidates

Serving on municipal Council is a meaningful way to contribute to your community — but it is also a serious commitment. Before deciding whether to run, take time to reflect on the realities of the role and how they align with your life, values, and capacity.

Clerks on Call has designed a handout to help you think critically and intentionally about that decision.

Click here for the handout

Posted May 5, 2026

April 29, 2026 Virtual Candidate Information Session

If you were unable to attend the 2026 Virtual Candidate Information Session held on April 29th, the presentation materials and a recording of the session can be found below:

Thinking of Running for Mayor or Deputy Mayor – Presentation by Michelle Dunne, Clerk, County of Dufferin

Candidate and Third Party Advertiser Information Presentation by Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing

Recording of the Candidate Information Session

If you are considering running in the 2026 Municipal Election, we encourage you to review the materials and learn more about the role.

New Dates have been added to the Association of Municipalities  (AMO) Pre-Election Workshops and the best part is, they’re free!  Check it out here.

Notice is hereby given to the Municipal Electors of the Township of Melancthon

Nominations in the Township of Melancthon will be accepted for the following offices:

Council

• Mayor one (1) to be elected

• Deputy Mayor one (1) to be elected

• Councillor three (3) to be elected

School Board Trustees

• Upper Grand District School Board (English-Public School Board Trustee): One (1) trustee for the combined Towns/Townships of Amaranth, Grand Valley, Melancthon, Mono, Mulmur and Shelburne. Nominations to be received by the Town of Mono

• Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board (English-Separate (Catholic) School Board Trustee): One (1) trustee for the combined Town of Caledon and Dufferin County. Nominations to be received by the Town of Caledon

• Conseil Scolaire Catholique MonAvenir (French-Separate (Catholic) School Board Trustee): One (1) trustee for Electoral Sector 5. Nominations to be received by the City of Brampton

• Conseil Scolaire Viamonde (French-Public School Board Trustee): One (1) trustee for Electoral Sector 5. Nominations to be received by the City of Barrie

Nomination Period

Beginning Friday, May 1, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. and ending at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, August 21, 2026 candidates may file a nomination form in person during regular business hour with the Clerk. It is strongly recommended that you call the Township Office at 519-925-5525 to book an appointment to file your Nomination paper.  Nominations must be completed on the prescribed nomination form and accompanied by the nomination filing fee of:

• Mayor: $200.00

• Deputy Mayor: $100.00

• Councillor: $100.00

The filing fee is payable by cash, certified cheque or debit. 

Filing a Nomination

A nomination form must be signed by the candidate and filed in person or by an agent with the Clerk. It is strongly recommended that you call the Township Office at 519-925-5525 to  book an appointment to file your Nomination paper. When filing, the candidate must provide a piece of Government photo identification, which includes their name and qualifying address. If the nomination is filed by an agent, it must be accompanied by a letter signed by the candidate and commissioned or notarized by a person authorized under the Commissioners for Taking Affidavits or Notaries Act. In addition to this letter, an agent must also provide a commissioned copy of the candidate’s identification to be retained on file.

On August 21, 2026 (Nomination Day), nominations can only be filed between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

Nominations will be certified by 4:00 p.m. on Monday, August 24, 2026.

Endorsement signatures are not required to file a nomination in the Township of Melancthon as the Township has under 4,000 eligible electors.

In the event there are an insufficient number of certified candidates to fill all positions available, nominations will be reopened for the vacant positions only on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. and such additional nominations, if required, may be filed with the Clerk.

Voting Period

Electors are hereby given notice that if a greater number of candidates are certified than required to fill the said offices, voting will take place between Friday, October 16, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. and Monday, October 26, 2026, at 8:00 p.m.

Denise B. Holmes, Clerk & Returning Officer

MUNICIPAL ELECTION RESOURCES

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing publishes candidates, voters and third-party advertiser guides to provide information about municipal and school board elections.  The guides are below:

2026 Candidates’ Guide

2026 Voters’ Guide

2026 Third-Party Advertisers’ Guide

Relevant Legislation

Municipal Elections Act, 1990, S.O. c.32 Sched.

Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c. 25

Education Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. E.2

For further information, please contact:

Denise B. Holmes, CAO/Clerk & Returning Officer, 519-925-5525, ext. 101 or Kaitlin Dinnick, Deputy Clerk & Deputy Returning Officer, 519-925-5525, ext. 103

📢 Save the Dates! – Joint Candidate Information Sessions 🗳️

Thinking about running in the upcoming municipal election? Join us to learn more about the roles and responsibilities of municipal office and the nomination process.

📍 April 29, 2026 – 6:30 p.m. 
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Session – Virtual (Zoom)

📍 May 6, 2026 – 7:00 p.m.
Monora Park Pavilion, 500 Monora Park Drive, Mono, Ontario

📍 May 7, 2026 – 10:00 a.m.
Centre Dufferin Recreation Complex (Shelburne Arena), 200 Fiddle Park Lane, Shelburne, Ontario

✅ Learn about becoming a candidate
✅ Ask questions
✅ Get prepared for the municipal election process

More details to follow — mark your calendars! 📅

Are you thinking of running for Council?

Join this AMO Workshop to gain useful insights and strategies focused on underrepresented communities

For more event info, please click on the below link:

Running for Municipal Office – Everything You Need to Know as an Underrepresented Candidate | AMO

Municipal Election 2026 🗳️

The municipal election will take place on October 26, 2026.

Residents will once again be able to vote online or over the phone.

2026 Election

The Council of the Township of Melancthon approved the use of Alternative Voting Methods (telephone and internet voting) for the 2026 Municipal Election. Electors will have the option of voting by touch tone telephone or through online voting on the internet. Candidates may file a nomination form in the Clerk’s Office during regular business hours beginning Monday, May 1, 2026 and ending at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, August 21, 2026. Election Day is Monday, October 26, 2026.