Elections

By voting in the municipal election, you are selecting representatives who will determine the priorities and direction of the Town. You have the right to vote in municipal elections in the Town if on election day:

• You are a Canadian citizen;
• You are 18 years of age or older; and
• You reside in, own, or are a tenant of land in the Town of Hanover, or are the spouse of such a person.
• Not be prohibited from voting according to Section 17 of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996.

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 Municipal Elections Act, 1996 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.

Check, update or add your information to the voters list for municipal and school board elections in Ontario. Visit RegisterToVoteON.ca or call 1.866.242.3025.

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The Town will utilize both internet and telephone voting in the 2026 Municipal and School Board Election. Mail-in and paper ballots will not be used.

Information regarding Voter Help Centres for the 2026 Municipal and School Board Election will be posted here once available.

Voters need to have a Voter Information Letter and one form of acceptable identification in order to vote. 

The Voter Information Letter 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 Town office with identification to confirm your registration status and receive your letter.

To view a listing of acceptable identification, please see the Voter Identification tab below.

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 kind of identification 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 and 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)

What happens if you don’t have acceptable identification

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.

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 Municipal Elections Act, 1996.

Candidates must file nomination papers prior to receiving any campaign contributions and/or expending any funds on a campaign. A person may be nominated for an office by filing a nomination in the Clerk’s Office, in person or by an Agent.

Every person running for municipal council in a municipality that has more than 4,000 electors, must also submit endorsement signatures from 25 people who are eligible to vote in the municipality. As Hanover has more than 4,000 electors, the Endorsement of Nomination – Form 2 must be submitted with the required 25 signatures.

A person who is eligible to vote in the municipality may provide endorsements to as many candidates as they choose and may endorse candidates for any office on the municipal council.

If you submit 25 endorsement signatures and find out later that a person (or persons) was not eligible to vote on the day that they signed the endorsement, you will not lose your nomination. The person who supplied false information (by declaring that they were eligible to endorse your nomination when they were not eligible) could be subject to prosecution.

Nomination Paper – Form 1 and Endorsement of Nomination – Form 2 will be available at the Town office from Friday May 1, 2026 to Thursday August 20, 2026 during regular office hours from 8:30am to 4:30pm, and between 8:30am and 2:00pm on Friday August 21, 2026 (Nomination Day), and on the website for the following offices:
(1) Mayor
(1) Deputy Mayor
(5) Councillor

Nomination papers for school boards must be obtained and filed at the appropriate Municipal Office (to be determined) for the following offices:
(1) School Board Trustee – English Public
(1) School Board Trustee – English Separate
(1) School Board Trustee – French Public
(1) School Board Trustee – French Separate

Nominations must be filed with the Clerk in the following manner:

• in person or through an agent, using the prescribed forms (Nomination Paper – Form 1 & Endorsement of Nomination – Form 2);
• book an appointment by emailing civic@hanvoer.ca or phone at 519.364.2780 for during regular office hours (8:30am to 4:30pm) at the Town office from Friday May 1, 2026 to Thursday August 20, 2026 and between 8:30am and 2:00pm on Friday August 21, 2026 (Nomination Day);
• with the prescribed nomination filing fee of $200 for Head of Council and $100 for all other offices – the filing fee shall be paid by cash, debit card, certified cheque or money order payable to the municipality and will be refunded if the candidate is elected, withdraws their nomination and files their financial statements with the Clerk by 2:00pm on March 31, 2026;
• with proof of identity and residence as prescribed in O. Reg. 304/13; and
• no faxed or other electronically transmitted nomination paper will be accepted – original signatures are required.

Section 224 of the Municipal Act, 2001 outlines the following responsibilities for the role of a Councillor:

1. To represent the public and to consider the well-being and interests of the municipality;
2. To develop and evaluate the policies and programs of the municipality;
3. To determine which services the municipality provides;
4. To ensure that administrative policies, practices and procedures and controllership policies, practices and procedures are in place to implement the decisions of council;

(d.1) To ensure the accountability and transparency of the operations of the municipality, including the activities of the senior management of the municipality;

1. To maintain the financial integrity of the municipality; and
2. To carry out the duties of Council under this or any other act.

Councillors also sit as members of Baords/Committees. These committees provide Council with recommendations. As a member of council you would be required to attend meetings of the committees on which you are a member, and also to attend meetings of the full Municipal Council.

Section 225 of the Municipal Act, 2001 outlines the following responsibilities for the role of the Head of Council (Mayor):

1. To act as the chief executive officer of the municipality;
2. To preside over Council meetings so that its business can be carried out efficiently and effectively;
3. To provide leadership to the Council; (c.1) Without limiting clause (c), to provide information and recommendations to the Council with respect to the role of Council described in clauses 224 (d) and (d.1);
4. To represent the municipality at official functions; and
5. To carry out the duties of a head of Council under this or any other Act

The Mayor and Deputy Mayor also sit as members of Grey County Council and would be required to attend County Council meetings.

The Council of the Town of Hanover meets in the Council Chambers located on the 2nd floor at the Civic Centre, 341 10th Street, Hanover on the first and third Monday of every month at 4:00pm. Council meets on a reduced schedule during July and August.

Council Members may also be members of Boards and/or Committees during their term. These appointments are made at the beginning of the term in consultation with individual members and the Mayor.

The Mayor and Deputy Mayor from each of the nine member municipalities of Grey County make up County Council. The Warden is elected by council each year as the leader of County Council.
Grey County uses a Committee of the Whole governance structure. County Council meets on the second and fourth Thursday of the month immediately followed by a Committee of the Whole meeting.

• Lead Where You Live - A guide to running for municipal council | Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO)
• Ontario Municipal Councillor's Guide
• Municipal Elections Act, 1996
• Municipal Act, 2001

You are eligible to register as a third party advertiser if you are:

• An individual who is normally a resident in Ontario;
• A corporation that carries on business in Ontario; or
• A trade union that holds bargaining rights for employees in Ontario.

You are not eligible to register as a third party advertiser if you are:

• A candidate whose nomination has been filed under Section 33 of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996;
• A federal political party registered under the Canada Elections Act or any federal constituency association or registered candidate at a federal election endorsed by that party;
• A provincial political party, constituency association, registered candidate or leadership contestant registered under the Election Finances Act; or
• The Crown in right of Canada or Ontario, a municipality or local board.

An individual, corporation, or trade union may file a notice of registration with the Clerk to be a registered third party advertiser for the election between May 1, 2026, and October 23, 2026, at the Town office during regular business hours (Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).

The prescribed Notice of Registration - Third Party - Form 7 issued by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing must include a declaration of qualification signed by the individual or by a representative of the corporation or trade union, as the case may be. The prescribed notice can be accessed below.

Third party advertisers are encouraged to book an appointment with the Clerk to submit their registration. To book an appointment please email civic@hanover.ca or call 519-364-2780.

Until the Clerk certifies your registration, a third party advertiser may not incur campaign expenses, accept contributions or begin advertising.

A third party advertisement is an advertisement in any broadcast, print, electronic or other medium that supports, promotes or opposes a candidate, or supports, promotes or opposes a “yes” or “no” answer to a question on the ballot.

Third party advertising does not include issues-based advertising, so groups that do public outreach can continue their issues-based advocacy work throughout the municipal election period.

Activities that do not involve spending money, such as discussions or expressing an opinion about a candidate will not be considered to be third party advertising. Examples include:

• speaking to friends and neighbours
• posting on social media
• sending an email to a group or mailing list

Internal communications from an employer to their employees, a corporation to its shareholders, directors, members or employees, or by a trade union to its members or employees will not be considered to be third party advertising.

Certified candidates for the 2026 election will be posted here as they become available.

Certified candidates for the 2026 election will be posted here as they become available.

Certified candidates for the 2026 election will be posted here as they become available.

Certified candidates for the 2026 election will be posted here as they become available.

Certified candidates for the 2026 election will be posted here as they become available.

Certified candidates for the 2026 election will be posted here as they become available.

Certified candidates for the 2026 election will be posted here as they become available.

• GCCAC members should have the ability to understand and apply the
  election campaign finance provisions of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 and must be considered
  impartial with respect to their ability to fulfill their responsibilities.
• Preference shall be given to those applicants with experience in
  accounting, municipal administration and/or law.

The GCCAC will be established by October 1, 2026 and continue until 2030. Successful applicants will receive a retainer of $1,000 for the four-year term, which will include one mandatory training session and any preparation/review required.

If a Sitting Committee needs to convene, a per-meeting remuneration of $200 for meetings under 4 hours and $300 for meetings more than 4 hours (plus mileage) will also be provided.

• Grey County Compliance Audit Committee (GCCAC) Terms of Reference 
• Grey County Compliance Audit Committee (GCCAC) Rules of Procedure

Grey County Compliance Audit Committee (GCCAC) Application Form 2026

A completed GCCAC application form can be submitted by April 13, 2026 at 4:30 to the Grey County Clerk via email or mail.

Email: clerk@grey.ca
Mail: Corporation of the County of Grey, 595 9th Ave E. Owen Sound, ON N4K 3E3

Candidates & Results

• Election Results - Official
• Declaration of Election Candidate(s)
• Statement of Votes

Compliance Audit Committee

• The following committee members were appointed to serve on the Grey County Compliance Audit Committee from 2022-2026:
  • Bryan G. Allendorf
  • John Leslie Hollins
  • Miranda Lahtinen
  • David Nusko
  • Dan Sullivan
• Terms of Reference

• Election Results - Official