Municipal Elections

County of Essex CAO Sandra Zwiers welcomes attendees

Pre-Election Candidates Info Session

An open invitation was answered by intrigued Individuals interested in learning about what might be expected for candidates running in the 2026 municipal and school board election. The County of Essex hosted the session on behalf of the region, which took place on April 8, 2026.

Eighty-seven citizens from across the County attended, either in person (55) or virtually (32) to take in the information for prospective candidates for the upcoming elections set to take place this fall, on October 26.

The keynote speakers were Spencer Fitzpatrick, Senior Municipal Advisor with the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs & Housing, and consultants Michelle Casavecchia-Somers and Michelle Smibert of Clerks on Call. They took questions from those in attendance, who were curious about their possible campaigns and legislated requirements.

Outside Council Chambers, each of the local municipalities from across the County and Region staffed information tables with Municipal Clerks and Election Officials, who provided residents the opportunity to pick up candidate packages and other election information from their respective municipalities.

Review the slide presentation from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing!

Scroll down this page to read, and download, much more information for candidates and voters alike.

Positions up for election

The Ontario Municipal Election will be held on Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. Elected candidates will serve a four-year term.

The seven municipalities in Essex County each run their own elections. Eligible voters in each municipality elect school board trustees, councillors and a mayor and deputy mayor.

Essex County Council is composed of the mayors and deputy mayors elected in each of the seven local municipalities. They elect from their ranks the positions of Warden and Deputy Warden.

Key Dates for the 2026 Election

Nomination Period: Commences on May 1, 2026

Nomination Day: August 21, 2026

Election Day: Oct. 26, 2026

Local election information

For information about the 2026 municipal election in your municipality, please see the election website pages for each of the municipalities in the region: