Election 2026

Voters' list and how to update your information

Elections Ontario maintains the Permanent Register of Electors for Ontario, commonly known as the Register or Voters' List. This list includes individuals who are eligible to vote in provincial and municipal elections across Ontario.

You can use Elections Ontario’s Voter Registration application to confirm, update, or add your information if you:

• Have changed your name or address
• Own or rent a new property
• No longer own or rent a property
• Want to remove your information from the Register

Register today by visiting RegisterToVoteON.ca or call 1-866-242-3025.

Voting in Multiple Municipal Elections

If you or your spouse own or rent property in a municipality other than your primary residence, you may be eligible to vote in more than one municipal election.

For more information on updating your voter registration, removing a deceased person from the Register, or joining the Register of Future Voters, visit the Elections Ontario website.

Register of Future Voters

The Ontario Register of Future Voters allows eligible 16- and 17-year-olds to pre-register so they are automatically added to the Voters' List when they turn 18. Visit RegisterToVoteON.ca to learn more about eligibility, identification requirements, and how to register as a future voter.

Students and Voter Registration

Students attending school away from home may be eligible to vote in multiple municipalities. If a student’s permanent residence and temporary student home are in different municipalities or a Territory Without Municipal Organization area, they can update or add their "home address" as their permanent family residence and list their student home as an additional property they, or their spouse, own or rent.

Updating Your School Support

As of January 1, 2024, the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) is no longer responsible for collecting voter information for municipal elections. However, MPAC is required to collect school support information.

Property owners in Ontario must designate support for a school system, even if they do not have children or if their children do not currently attend school. This designation appears on your Property Assessment Notice.

You can update your school support designation through MPAC’s Online School Support Tool. Changes for the 2026 Municipal Election must be submitted before June 1, 2026. To learn more about school support, visit the MPAC website.

In order to be eligible to vote, you must meet the Qualifications of Electors as listed in the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, s.17(2)

WHO CAN VOTE:

A person is entitled to be an elector at an election held in a local municipality if, on voting day, they:

• reside in the local municipality or is the owner or tenant of land there, or is the spouse of such owner or tenant;
• is a Canadian citizen;
• is at least 18 years old; and
• is not prohibited from voting under subsection (3) or otherwise by law.

All you need to do is show up to vote on Election Day at your designated poll with identification.

Student voting

Students are allowed to vote in both their home municipality and the municipality where they are attending school.

Coming Soon (April 2026)

The Township of Lucan Biddulph has one Mayor, one Deputy Mayor and 3 Councillors elected to represent each of the Township's 3 wards,

Role of Council members

The Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MAH) has published a document called, "The Municipal Councillor's Guide." This guide provides an overview of the many duties and challenges elected officials at the municipal level face.

Mayor

The MAH guide is the source of this abbreviated description for the role of head of Council, which in the Township of Lucan Biddulph is referred to as the Mayor:

• to act as the municipality's chief executive officer;
• to preside over council meetings such that business is carried out both efficiently and effectively;
• to provide leadership to the council;
• to provide information/recommendations to council on policies, practices, procedures, to ensure transparency and accountability; and,
• to represent the municipality at official functions.

Councillors

This abbreviated description for the role of ward Councillor is based on the guide published by MAH:

• to represent the public and to consider the well- being and interests of the municipality;
• to develop and evaluate the policies and programs of the municipality;
• to determine which services the municipality provides;
• to maintain the financial integrity of the municipality;
• to ensure that administrative policies practices are in place to implement the decisions of council; and,
• to ensure the accountability and transparency of the operations of the municipality.

 Municipal councillors also sit as members of a number of Standing Committees. These committees carry out much of the work of council and then report back to council with recommendations. As a member of municipal council, you would be required to attend meetings of the Standing Committees on which you are a member, and also to attend meetings of the full Council.

Qualifications for Mayor & Councillor

To run for a position on council you must be eligible to vote in the Township of Lucan Biddulph. On the day you file your nomination, a person must be:

• A Canadian citizen
• 18 years of age
• An owner or tenant of land in the Township of Lucan Biddulph, or the spouse of the owner or tenant

Qualifications for School Board Trustees

To run for any of the four school boards in the Township of Lucan Biddulph you must be a resident within the jurisdiction of the board, and you must be eligible to vote in a school board election. On the day you file our nomination, a person must be:

• A Canadian citizen
• 18 years of age
• Must meet any other qualifications to vote for the school board (for example, being a Roman Catholic, or holding French language rights).

Filing a nomination

The nomination period begins on Friday, May 1, 2026.

The deadline to file a nomination to be a council or school board trustee candidate is Friday, August 21, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.

The Election Office is located at the Municipal Office at 270 Main Street, Lucan.

How to file a nomination

You must file in person at the Municipal Office.

You will need to pay the nomination fee and provide identification. You are also required to swear an oath at our office. You must complete the following forms:

• Nomination Form
• Declaration of Qualifications for Municipal Candidates OR Declaration of Qualification for School Board Candidates

Nomination papers are also available at the Municipal Office.

Withdrawing a nomination

If you no longer wish to run in the Township of Lucan Biddulph's municipal election, you must file a written withdrawal in-person before 2:00 p.m. on Nomination Day (August 21, 2026).

Knowing which ward to run in

A candidate can run for office in the ward of their choice.  You do not have to live in the same ward you are running in.  However, you do have to vote from the address at which you reside.

Knowing how many candidates are running in each ward

The Township of Lucan Biddlph post the names of the candidates online as candidates file their nomination papers.

The Province of Ontario releases a candidates' guide for every municipal election.  It is anticipated that the Province of Ontario will release a 2026 Guide in April 2026 and we will update this link at that time. In advance of that time, please see the guide below which tells you what you need to know to run as a candidate in Ontario municipal council and school board elections.

2022 Candidates Guide

The Province of Ontario releases a candidates' guide for every municipal election.  It is anticipated that the Province of Ontario will release a 2026 Guide in April 2026 and we will update this link at that time. In advance of that time, please see the guide below which tells you what you need to know to run as a candidate in Ontario municipal council and school board elections.

2022 Candidates Guide

Registrations can be accepted by the Clerk, or designate, between the first day for filing nominations, Friday, May 1, 2026, to Friday, October 23, 2026.

What is Third Party Advertising?

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

Ontario residents, corporations and trade unions that will incur expenses for such advertisements must register as a third party advertiser with the Clerk before they can begin advertising during a municipal election.

What isn't Third Party Advertising?

• Advertisements by or under the direction of a candidate
• Issues-based advertising during the election period (with the exception of advertising that has the purpose of promoting, supporting or opposing a “yes” or “no” answer to a question on the ballot)
• Advertising that does not cost money to post or broadcast, such as comments made on social media
• Messages distributed by:
  • an individual to their employees
  • a corporation to its shareholders, directors, members or employees
  • a trade union to its members or employee

Involvement of a candidate in Third Party Advertising

Third party advertising must be done independently of candidates, who are not able to direct a third party advertiser. If a candidate wishes to purchase or direct their own election campaign advertising, they must follow rules under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996  and identify themselves on their advertisements.

Advertising Requirements

Third party advertisements must contain the following information:

1. Name of the registered third party advertiser
2. Municipality where the third party advertiser is registered
3. Telephone number, mailing address, or email address at which the registered third party advertiser may be contacted regarding the advertisement

If you believe that a Third Party Advertiser has contravened the Municipal Elections Act, please contact the Municipal Office.

The Province of Ontario releases a Third Party Advertisers’ Guide for every municipal election. It is anticipated that the Province of Ontario will release a 2026 Guide in April 2026 and we will update this link at that time. In advance of that time, please see the guide which tells you what you need to know as third party advertiser in Ontario municipal council and school board elections.

2022 THIRD PARTY ADVERTISERS' GUIDE

Election signs can only start to be put up after nomination papers have been filed and must comply with the Township Lucan Biddulph's Sign By-law.

Sign By-law

The Township of Lucan Biddulph's Sign By-law and Regulation establish standards for the placement of election signs on public and private property.

• Ministry of Municipal Affairs "Voters' Guide"  (2022)
• Ministry of Municipal Affairs "Candidates' Guide" (2022)
• Ministry of Municipal Affairs "Third Party Advertisers' Guide"  (2022)
• Ward Map
• Online Free Workshop for Youth Candidates (Sessions Feb-April 2026)

https://www.lucanbiddulph.on.ca/2022-municipal-election