Elections

To be eligible to run for municipal office in the Township of Ramara, as of the date you file your nomination, you must:

• Be a Canadian citizen
• Be at least 18 years of age
• Be an owner or tenant of land in the Township of Ramara, or the spouse of an owner or tenant
• Not be legally prohibited from voting
• Not be disqualified by any legislation from holding municipal office

Who is not eligible to be elected as a Member of Council?

• Any person not eligible to vote in the municipality
• An employee of the Township of Ramara, unless they take an unpaid leave of absence before nomination and resign if elected
• A judge of any court
• A Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP), Senator, or Member of Parliament (MP)
• An inmate of a penal or correctional institution under sentence of imprisonment
• Any person disqualified due to violations of election campaign financial requirements, including failure to file required financial statements under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996

Are you thinking about running in the 2026 Municipal or School Board Election?

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, in partnership with the City of Orillia and the Townships of Oro-Medonte, Severn, Ramara, and Springwater, will host free information sessions for:

• Prospective municipal and school board candidates
• Individuals interested in registering as Third-Party Advertisers

In-Person Session

Thursday, July 15, 2026
6 – 8 p.m.
Rotary Place – Orillia Room
100 University Avenue, Orillia, ON L3V 6H1
Seating is limited. 

Topics include:

• Roles and responsibilities of elected officials and third-party advertisers
• Eligibility rules and nomination process
• Campaign finances and financial reporting
• Compliance audits
• Voters’ list
• Key election dates

Candidates may not raise or spend campaign funds until their nomination papers have been filed with the Clerk.

School Boards are required to submit their reports regarding the determination and distribution of School Board Trustees by April 7, 2026. A list of participating School Boards, along with information on where to submit nomination papers for School Board Trustee positions, will be posted as it becomes available.

To run for school board trustee, as of the date you file your nomination, you must:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Be a Canadian citizen
• Be a resident within the jurisdiction of the school board
• Be eligible to be an elector for the school board you are seeking election to
• Not be disqualified by any legislation from holding office

The following individuals are disqualified:

• A clerk, deputy clerk, treasurer, or deputy treasurer of a municipality within the board’s jurisdiction
• Any person not eligible to vote
• An employee of a school board, unless they take an unpaid leave of absence before nomination and resign if elected
• A judge of any court
• A Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP), Senator, or Member of Parliament (MP)
• An inmate of a penal or correctional institution under sentence of imprisonment
• Any person disqualified for violations of financial or reporting requirements under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996

The Township of Ramara will maintain a list of candidates as nominations received. A list of certified candidates will be posted after the certification deadline on August 24, 2026.

A nomination may be withdrawn in writing up until 2 p.m. on August 21, 2026.

If a candidate is submitting a new nomination for a different office, they will be required to withdraw one nomination before submitting another.

A Third-Party Advertiser is an individual, corporation, or trade union that has registered with the municipality in order to publish advertisements during the municipal election in support of or in opposition to a candidate

All individuals, corporations, or trade unions that intend to spend money to publish advertisements supporting or opposing a candidate must register with the municipality where they intend to publish advertisements (no cost for registration).

Third-Party Advertisers are subject to expense limits between the date of registration and October 2026 and must file financial statements reflecting their activities during the campaign period.

Advertising and messaging that does not incur costs (e.g. unpaid social media activity) are not considered third-party advertisements and are not subject to these requirements.

Third-Party Advertisers will be listed here after they are certified on August 24, 2026.

Please email or call to arrange your appointment at election@ramara.ca or 705-484-5374 ext. 256. The Clerk, or their designate, will provide the full Third-Party Advertiser package and any additional information during this process.

Municipal, school board and registered third-party advertiser election signs within the Township of Ramara must meet the requirements within the Township's Election Sign Bylaw.

Election Day: Monday, October 26, 2026

Internet/Telephone Voting: Thursday, October 8 at 9 a.m. until October 26 at 8 p.m.

Advance Voting: Paper Ballots

• Saturday, October 10, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Ramara Administration Building 
• Thursday, October 15, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Ramara Centre
• Saturday, October 17, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Ramara Centre

Offices to be elected:

• Mayor
• Deputy Mayor
• Ward 1 Councillor
• Ward 2 Councillor
• Ward 3 Councillor
• Ward 4 Councillor
• Ward 5 Councillor
• Trustee - English language public district board #17
• Trustee - English language separate district board #44
• Trustee - French language public district board #58
• Trustee - French Language Separate District Board #64

Authority: Conducted under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996

Who conducts the election: Municipal Elections Coordinator/Clerk

Check Which Ward You Live In

In the Township of Ramara, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor are elected by all eligible electors, while each Councillor is elected by the eligible electors of their respective ward. This means when you cast your ballot, you will be able to vote for the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and specific Ward Councillor based on your municipal address.

Ramara has five wards. Learn more about each ward, including the boundaries, and access a map on the Wards webpage.

You can vote in Ramara's 2026 Municipal Election if you are:

• A Canadian citizen; and
• 18 years of age or older; and
• A resident of the Township of Ramara; or
• A non-resident who is, or whose spouse is, an owner or tenant of land in the Township of Ramara; and
• Not prohibited from voting by law

Resident Elector

A resident elector is a person who lives and is eligible to vote in that municipality’s election. A person is only allowed to have one residence. A person’s residence is the permanent lodging place to which, whenever absent, they intend to return.

The following rules apply in determining a person’s residence:

• A person may only have one residence at a time
• The place where a person’s family resides is also their residence, unless they move elsewhere with the intention of changing their permanent lodging place
• If a person has no other permanent lodging place, the place where they occupy a room or part of a room as a regular lodger, to which they habitually return, is their residence

Non-Resident Elector

If a person lives in one municipality but owns or rents property in another municipality, then they are a non-resident elector and able to vote in that municipality’s election.

Spouse and Children of Non-Resident Electors

If a person lives in one municipality and qualifies as a spouse of a non-resident elector, then they are able to vote in that municipality’s election.

Children of a non-resident elector are not permitted to vote in Ramara unless they are a qualified elector at another property.

Trailer Owner in Campgrounds

Trailer owners in campgrounds are tenants of the campground and are potentially eligible electors. Under a timeshare contract, to be eligible, the person must be entitled to use the land on Voting Day, or for a period of six weeks or more during the calendar year in which the election is held.

People Without Housing

Persons without a permanent residence may also qualify to be added to the Voter’s List during the revision period by submitting an application to the Clerk. If a person has no permanent residence or lodging place, the following rules apply in determining their residence:

• The place to which the person most frequently returned to sleep or eat during the five weeks preceding the determination is their residence
• If the person returns with equal frequency to one place to sleep and another to eat, the place to which they return to sleep is their residence
• Multiple returns to the same place during a single day, whether to eat or to sleep, shall be considered one return
• A person’s declaration regarding the places to which they returned to eat or sleep during a given time period is conclusive, in the absence of evidence to the contrary

Students

A person may have residences in two local municipalities at the same time if the person lives in one of the local municipalities in order to attend an education institution but not with the intention of changing their permanent lodging place, and the person’s permanent lodging place is in the other local municipality. Therefore, students can vote in the municipality where they attend school and they can also vote in the municipality where they live.

Online Voting

Online voting will be available from Thursday, October 8, 2026, at 9 a.m. until Monday, October 26, 2026, at 8 p.m.

Eligible electors may vote:

• Anywhere, at any time, using a computer, tablet, or mobile device
• In person at any Voter Assistance Centre, using an election tablet (during operating hours)
• On a public computer at any Township of Ramara Public Library branch (during operating hours)

Note: Paper ballots will NOT be available on Voting Day (October 26).

Paper Ballot Voting (In-Person)

Electors may cast a paper ballot in person at the Ramara Administration Building and Ramara Centre on the following dates:

• October 10, 2026, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Ramara Administration Building
• October 15, 2026, 4 to 8 p.m. at Ramara Centre
• October 17, 2026, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Ramara Centre

Telephone Voting

Telephone voting will be available from Thursday, October 8, 2026, at 9 a.m. until Monday, October 26, at 8 p.m.

Voters must present acceptable identification in order to receive a ballot.

Your identification must:

• Show your name
• Show your qualifying address

Acceptable Identification

Voters must provide identification that demonstrates:

• Proof of identity (photo identification is acceptable but not required)
• Proof of Canadian citizenship
• Proof of residency in the Township of Ramara, or proof of eligibility as a non-resident elector

A complete list of acceptable identification documents is available on the Government of Ontario website:

Acceptable documents for voter identification – Ontario municipal and school board elections

Only one item of acceptable identification is required. That one item must be an original, certified, or notarial copy and show the person’s name and qualifying address.

If Your Identification Is Incomplete

If your identification does not include all required information, but you are otherwise eligible to vote, you may be required to complete a declaration to confirm your eligibility before being issued a ballot.

If you have questions about acceptable identification or voter eligibility, please contact the Election Coordinator for assistance at election@ramara.ca or 705-484-5374 ext. 256.

The Township of Ramara is committed to ensuring that the 2026 Municipal Election is accessible to all eligible electors. In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (as amended), the Township will have regard for the needs of candidates and electors with disabilities and will provide opportunities for full participation in the voting process.

The Township of Ramara is committed to providing accessible voting locations and services for the 2026 Municipal Election. Candidates and electors with disabilities or specific accessibility needs who require additional assistance are encouraged to contact the Election Coordinator at election@ramara.ca or 705-484-5374 ext. 256 in advance of Voting Day.

Can I vote by proxy?

No. Proxy voting is not permitted in the Township of Ramara 2026 Municipal Elections. Electors may vote online or by telephone if they cannot attend in-person voting.

The County of Simcoe has established a Joint Compliance Audit Committee (CAC) with local municipalities, as required under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996. 

Purpose of the Committee

Under Section 88.37(1) of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, municipalities are required, prior to October 1 in a regular election year, to establish a Compliance Audit Committee.

The CAC’s role is to:

• Consider applications for compliance audits of candidates’ or registered third parties’ campaign finances
• Determine whether a compliance audit is warranted
• Conduct all responsibilities fairly, openly, and responsibly

Committee Composition

The Committee is composed of individuals with backgrounds in:

• Accounting or auditing
• Law or academia
• Election campaign finance or related experience

Committee members are selected based on:

• Knowledge and understanding of municipal election campaign finances
• Analytical and decision-making skills
• Experience serving on committees, task forces, or similar settings
• Strong oral and written communication skills

Term of Appointment

The CAC is established prior to Voting Day, and member appointments take effect on the first day of the new Council’s term.

The Township of Ramara is part of a two-tier municipal system. This means that certain services are delivered by an upper-tier municipality, while others are provided locally.

County of Simcoe (Upper-Tier Municipality)

The County of Simcoe delivers select services on behalf of its lower-tier municipalities, including the Township of Ramara.

The County of Simcoe is comprised of the following local municipalities:

Township of Severn, Town of Penetanguishene, Township of Springwater, Township of Tay, Township of Tiny, Township of Clearview, Town of Collingwood, Township of Essa, Town of Innisfil, Town of Midland, Township of Oro-Medonte, Town of Wasaga Beach, Township of Adjala-Tosorontio, Town of New Tecumseth, and the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury.

To learn more about services provided by the County of Simcoe, visit the County’s website.

Information about County of Simcoe Council and its role is also available through the County’s Clerk’s Department.

Township of Ramara Services

The Township of Ramara is responsible for delivering a wide range of local services, including:

• Ramara Fire and Rescue Services
• By-Law Enforcement
• Ramara Public Library
• Parks and Recreation Facilities
• Building and Planning Services
• Local road, trail, and sidewalk maintenance
• Licensing
• Facility rentals
• Water and wastewater services
• And more

Ramara Council

The governing body of the Township of Ramara is Municipal Council.

Ramara Council is made up of seven (7) members:

• One (1) Mayor
• One (1) Deputy Mayor
• Five (5) Ward Councillors

Council is responsible for setting municipal policies and by-laws, approving the municipal budget, and making decisions related to local services. Members of Council are elected for a four-year term.

The Mayor and Deputy Mayor also represent the Township of Ramara on County of Simcoe Council.