Frequently Asked Questions and Resources

Resources

Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Resources: 

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can vote?

You are eligible to vote in the Municipal Election if you:

  • Are a Canadian citizen
  • Are 18 years of age or older
  • Live in West Grey, or own or rent property in the municipality (or your spouse does)
  • Are not prohibited from voting under the Municipal Elections Act

You may only vote once in West Grey, even if you own multiple properties.
When can I vote?

Voting begins at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, October 16, and continues until 8:00 p.m. on Monday, October 26, 2026. 
What do I need to vote?

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.
When will I receive my voter information letter?

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.
What are the voting methods?

Internet and 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 Election Centres.
What devices can I use to vote?

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.
What if I require assistance voting?

Election Centres

Election staff will be available to assist voters at Election 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 Election Centre to vote with assistance.

Retirement and Long-Term Care Centres

Retirement homes and long-term care facilities will host Election Centres during the voting period. The dates and times of Election Centres at these facilities will be confirmed before the voting period and posted at each location.

Who can run?

To be eligible to run for municipal office, you must:

  • Be a Canadian citizen and at least 18 years of age;
  • Qualify to vote in West Grey by:
    • Living in the municipality; or
    • Owning or renting property in the municipality; or
    • Being the spouse of someone who owns or rents property in the municipality;
  • Not be prohibited from voting;
  • Not be disqualified from holding municipal office under Section 29 of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996.

Who is a third party advertiser?

A third party advertiser is any individual, corporation, or trade union that causes an election campaign advertisement to appear. Third party advertisers must register with the Municipal Clerk.
What is a third party advertisement?

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

Third party advertising does not include issues-based advertising, which means organizations can continue public outreach and advocacy on issues throughout the municipal election period.

Activities that do not involve spending money are generally not considered third party advertising. Examples include:

  • Speaking with friends or neighbours
  • Posting on social media
  • Sending emails to groups or mailing lists

Internal communications are also excluded, including communications from:

  • Employers to employees
  • Corporations to shareholders, directors, members, or employees
  • Trade unions to members or employees.
Who can register as a third party advertiser?

Individuals, corporations, and trade unions may register as third party advertisers and may also contribute to third party advertising campaigns.

Third party advertisers must register with the municipality where they plan to advertise. If advertising in multiple municipalities, registration is required in each municipality.

Once registered, a third party advertiser may support or oppose any candidate or ballot question that local electors are eligible to vote on, including municipal council, school board trustee, and county or regional council positions.

Third party advertising must operate independently from candidates, and candidates cannot direct or coordinate third party advertisers.

Candidates are not permitted to register as third party advertisers.
How can you register as a third party advertiser?

To register as a third party advertiser, applicants must complete and submit the required forms to the municipality where they intend to advertise.

Notices of Registration may be filed between May 1, 2026, and October 23, 2026, during regular Municipal Office hours (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). Applicants must submit a completed “Notice of Registration – Third Party” (Form 7) and a “Release of Campaign Information” (Form OS11).

A third party advertiser is officially registered and permitted to begin advertising once the Municipal Clerk certifies the Notice of Registration.
How much does it cost to register as a third party advertiser?

There is no registration fee for third party advertisers.
What are the requirements for third party advertising?

If contacted by third party advertisers, broadcasters and publishers must follow these mandatory requirements:

Under Section 88.5 of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, third party advertisements may only appear between May 1, 2026, and the close of voting on October 26, 2026.

Before any third party advertisement is published or broadcast, the registered third party must provide the broadcaster or publisher with the following written information:

  • the name of the registered third party
  • the name, business address, and telephone number of the individual authorized to act on behalf of the registered third party
  • the municipality where the third party is registered
What information must third party advertisers include?

Beginning May 1, 2026, all third party advertisers must clearly identify themselves and include required information on all advertisements, signs, and campaign materials.

Each advertisement must include:

  • the legal name of the registered third party advertiser (for corporations or trade unions, the official organization name must be used, not the representative’s name)
  • the municipality where the third party advertiser is registered
  • a telephone number, mailing address, or email address where the advertiser can be contacted regarding the advertisement
Do campaign finance rules apply to third party advertisers?

Campaign finance rules for third party advertisers are similar to those for candidates.

Third party advertisers are subject to spending limits, and contributors must also follow established contribution limits.

Corporations conducting business in Ontario and trade unions with bargaining rights for employees in Ontario may contribute to third party advertisers, but they are not permitted to contribute directly to candidates.

Contribution limits are:

  • up to $1,200 from a single contributor to one registered third party advertiser
  • up to $5,000 total from a single contributor to two or more registered third party advertisers within the same municipality
Where can I find a list of registered third party advertisers?

A list of registered third party advertisers will be made available on the Municipality of West Greys website.

What is a Compliance Audit Committee?

The Municipal Elections Act, 1996 (MEA) requires every municipality and school board in Ontario to establish a compliance audit committee to review compliance audit applications.

If an eligible elector believes, on reasonable grounds, that a candidate or registered third party advertiser has violated MEA rules related to campaign finances, they may request a compliance audit of that campaign’s financial activities.

Lower-tier municipalities in Grey-Bruce have partnered to form the Grey County Joint Compliance Audit Committee.

Purpose of the Committee

  • review and decide whether to grant or reject compliance audit applications submitted by eligible electors
  • appoint an auditor if an application is approved
  • receive and review the auditor’s report and determine whether legal proceedings should begin
  • review Clerk reports regarding contributors who may have violated contribution limits and determine whether legal action is appropriate

The committee’s powers and responsibilities are established under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996.

Compliance Audit Applications
The Grey County Joint Compliance Audit Committee reviews applications concerning the campaign finances of municipal candidates and registered third party advertisers.

Any eligible elector who is entitled to vote in the election and believes, on reasonable grounds, that a candidate or registered third party has breached campaign finance provisions may apply for a compliance audit, even if no financial statement has been filed.

Application deadlines
Applications must be submitted within 90 days after the latest of the following:

  • the filing date under Section 88.30 of the MEA
  • the date a financial statement was filed, if submitted within 30 days after the official filing deadline
  • the supplementary filing date, if applicable
  • the expiry date of any approved extension for filing requirements

Applications must be completed and submitted to the Office of the Clerk for the municipality where the candidate was nominated or where the registered third party is registered.

Contact Us

Municipality of West Grey
402813 Grey Road 4
Durham, ON N0G 1R0
info@westgrey.com
519-369-2200

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