Wrenford City Council approved amendments to the municipal election by-law on Monday, October 21, 2024. The changes prepare the City for the municipal election on October 26, 2026, and bring local rules in line with recent provincial legislation.
The updated by-law, By-law 2024-099, introduces several key changes to how nominations, voting, and ballot counting will work. If you are running for a city ward, you will need to collect 50 nomination signatures. Mayoral candidates will need 100. A $100.00 nomination deposit is now required for all candidates.
Voting hours on election day will stay the same, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. This keeps the schedule consistent with past elections and makes it easier for you to cast your ballot.
The City is also adding a Permanent Electors Registry. If you want to vouch for a friend or neighbour's address on election day, only listed residents on this registry can do so. The by-law also removes fax machines as a way to request special ballots, while expanding access for residents who cannot vote at advance polls or on election day.
A major change comes from provincial law, which bans electronic ballot tabulators. Wrenford will now hand-count all ballots. This switch requires more election workers and will delay the release of official results.
"Updating our election by-law now ensures the October 2026 vote runs smoothly, fairly, and in full compliance with provincial standards," said Mayor Danielle Okafor-Price. "We have budgeted the necessary resources so that every resident can have confidence in the process."
The City estimates the 2026 municipal election will cost $1,300,000.00 in total. An additional $850,000.00 has been approved to cover the higher costs of hand-counting and extra staffing. The City will continue to work with the provincial government to seek funding support for these increased election expenses.
For details on nomination forms, polling locations, and how to become an election worker, visit the Elections office page. More information about voting rules and the election timeline is available on the Municipal elections page.