Become a Candidate | Bracebridge Votes

To become a candidate in the 2026 Municipal and School Board Election, a person must show proof of their identity and qualifying address, including a photo and signature, their nomination paper and the appropriate filing fee ($200 for Office of Mayor, $100 for all other offices).

Candidates for Mayor and Councillors must provide at least 25 endorsements of nomination from eligible Bracebridge voters. The nomination paper and endorsement of nomination forms must have original signatures.

Note: endorsement signatures are NOT REQUIRED for School Board Trustee Candidates.

Nominations

A person can only become a candidate during the Nomination Period. The Nomination Period starts on Friday May 1, 2026 and ends on Friday August 21, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.

All nomination documentation MUST contain original signatures.

Nominations must be filed in person BY APPOINTMENT ONLY with the Clerk at the Municipal Office during the period:

Friday May 1, 2026 through to Thursday August 20, 2026, Monday to Friday (statutory holidays excepted) between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Friday August 21, 2026 (Nomination Day) between 8:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. On Nomination Day, candidates must make their presence known to the Clerk prior to 2:00 p.m.

Until a nomination paper is filed, a person cannot raise or spend any money on their campaign.

For those who are interested in becoming candidates, please refer to the forms and information below.

Candidate Forms and Information

Municipal Council Candidate Information and Forms (Note: Links to Forms will be added as information is updated).

Nomination Information for Candidates

Nomination Paper (Form 1) (note: 2026 forms not yet available from the Province)

Endorsement of Nomination (Form 2) (note: 2026 forms not yet available from the Province)

Declaration of Qualification

Acknowledgement of Release of Personal Information

Candidate's Declaration - Proper Use of Voters List

Elections Sign By-law 2024-068

Estimated Campaign Spending Limits

Information for Financial Institutions

Notice to Candidates of Filing Requirements

Notice to Candidates of Penalties under Subsections 88.23(2) and 92(1) of the Municipal Elections Act and Filing Fee Refund Requirements

Financial Statement - Auditor's Report Candidate (Form 4) (note: 2026 forms not yet available from the Province)

Financial Statement - Subsequent Expenses (Form 5) (note: 2026 forms not yet available from the Province)

Notice of Extension to Campaign Period (Form 6) (note: 2026 forms not yet available from the Province)

Candidate Request for Information Form

2026 Candidates' Guide - Ontario Municipal Council and School Board Trustees (note: 2026 guide not yet available from the Province)

Municipal District Council Information

Candidate Sign Off Sheet

School Board Trustee Candidate Information and Forms (Note: Links to Forms will be added as information is updated).

Nomination Information for Candidates

Nomination Paper (Form 1) (note: 2026 forms not yet available from the Province)

Declaration of Qualification

Acknowledgement of Release of Personal Information

Candidate's Declaration - Proper Use of Voters List

Elections Sign By-law 2024-068

Estimated Campaign Spending Limits

Information for Financial Institutions

Notice to Candidates of Filing Requirements

Notice to Candidates of Penalties under Subsections 88.23(2) and 92(1) of the Municipal Elections Act and Filing Fee Refund Requirements

Financial Statement - Auditor's Report Candidate (Form 4) (note: 2026 forms not yet available from the Province)

Financial Statement - Subsequent Expenses (Form 5) (note: 2026 forms not yet available from the Province)

Notice of Extension to Campaign Period (Form 6) (note: 2026 forms not yet available from the Province)

2026 Candidates' Guide - Ontario Municipal Council and School Board Trustees (note: 2026 guide not yet available from the Province)

Candidate Sign Off Sheet

Council Candidate Eligibility

School Board Trustee Eligibility

2026 Municipal Election - Council Offices

The next four year term of office begins on November 15, 2026 and runs until November 14, 2030. The following Council offices are to be elected in the 2026 Municipal Election:

Council Offices

Office	Number of Candidates to be Elected
Mayor	One (1) to be elected at large by all voters in the municipality
District and Town Councillors	Three (3) to be elected at large by all voters in the municipality
Councillor (Bracebridge Ward)	One (1) to be elected by all voters in Bracebridge Ward
Councillor (Monck/Muskoka Ward)	One (1) to be elected by all voters in Monck/ Muskoka Ward
Councillor (Macaulay Ward)	One (1) to be elected by all voters in Macaulay Ward
Councillor (Draper Ward)	One (1) to be elected by all voters in Draper Ward
Councillor (Oakley Ward)	One (1) to be elected by all voters in Oakley Ward

School Board Offices

The following School Board offices are to be elected in the 2026 Municipal Election (please note the location to file nominations may change based on data from MPAC - final determination of filing location will be confirmed in April):

School Board Offices

School Board Offices and Filing Location
Trillium Lakelands District School Board	One (1) to be elected to represent the Town of Bracebridge
Nominations are to be filed with the Clerk, Town of Bracebridge
Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board (Area 5)	One (1) to be elected to represent the District of Muskoka and Parry Sound Area, specifically:
Town of Bracebridge Town of Huntsville Township of Carling Township of Lake of Bays	Township of McKellar Township of Seguin Town of Gravenhurst Town of Parry Sound	Township of Georgian Bay Municipality of McDougall Township of Muskoka Lakes
Nominations are to be filed with the Clerk, Town of Bracebridge
Conseil scolaire public du Nord-Est de l’Ontario (Secteur A) - One (1) to be elected to represent:
Town of Bracebridge Town of Huntsville Municipality of Whitestone Township of Carling Township of Lake of Bays Township of McKellar Township of Seguin Municipality of East Ferris Township of Nipissing Combined Township of McMurrich/Monteith Township of Perry Armour Township	Town of Gravenhurst Town of Parry Sound Township of The Archipelago Township of Georgian Bay Township of McDougall Township of Muskoka Lakes West Parry Sound Brd of Ed Municipality of Magnetawan Township of Strong Township of Machar South River Village Town of Kearney Village of Sundridge	Township of Nipissing East Parry Sound Brd of Ed Township of Papineau-Cameron Mattawan Township Town of Mattawa Calvin Township Township of Bonfield Township of Chisholm Township of Joly Township of Ryerson Municipality of Powassan Municipality of Callander Village of Burks Falls
Nominations are to be filed with the Clerk, Municipality of East Ferris. Each municipality located greater than 100 kilometres from the Municipality of East Ferris will receive nominations from individuals residing in their municipality.
Conseil Scolaire Catholique MonAvenir – Simcoe-Muskoka - One (1) to be elected to represent:
City of Barrie Town of Bracebridge Town of Collingwood Town of Huntsville Town of Midland Town of Parry Sound Town of Wasaga Beach Township of Carling Township of Essa Township of Essa–Essa CFB Pt	Township of Lake of Bays Township of McKellar Township of Oro-Medonte Township of Seguin Township of Springwater City of Orillia Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury Town of Gravenhurst Town of Innisfil Town of New Tecumseth	Town of Penetanguishene Township of Adjala-Tosorontio Township of Clearview Township of Georgian Bay Township of McDougall Township of Muskoka Lakes Township of Ramara Township of Severn Township of Tiny Township of Tay
Nominations are to be filed with the Clerk, City of Barrie

Candidate and Third Party Advertiser Information Session

Potential candidates interested in running in the 2026 Municipal and School Board Election are invited to attend a free Candidate Information Session on Thursday, April 30, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. at the District Municipality of Muskoka Municipal Office (70 Pine Street).