Elections

Find your Ward:

Leeds 1000 Islands Ward Boundaries Map

The Municipal Elections Act 

The Municipal Elections Act, 1996, provides information on rules and processes for running municipal elections. This includes information on campaign finances, voting procedures, and recount procedures.

The certified list of candidates for the upcoming Municipal Election on October 26, 2026 will be available August 2026.

Friday, May 1, 2026 at 9:00 a.m.

• First day to file a Nomination Paper for the offices of Mayor, Councillor and School Board Trustee.
• First day to file a notice of registration as a third party advertiser.

Friday, August 21, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.

• Deadline for candidates to
  • File a nomination
  • Withdraw a nomination
  • Change office

Monday, August 24, 2026

• Last day for the Clerk to certify candidate nomination papers.
• Declaration of candidates elected by acclamation, if applicable.

Tuesday, September 1, 2026

• Voters’ List available to candidates.

Friday, October 16, 2026

• The advanced voting period is from October 16, 2026 until Election Day, Monday October 26, 2026.

Monday, October 26, 2026

• Voting Day.

Notice is hereby given to the Municipal Electors of the Township of Leeds and the Thousands Islands Nominations in the Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands for office of:

Council of the Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands Offices:

1 Mayor (Elected at Large)

6 Councillors (Elected for each of the wards as follows)

Ward 1 (3 Councillors)

Ward 2 (2 Councillors)

Ward 3 (1 Councillor) 

School Board Trustees Offices: 

1 English Language Public School Board Trustee, Upper Canada District School Board - Ward 4

1 English Separate School Board Trustee, Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario - Zone 4

1 French Public School Board Trustee, Le Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario - Geographic Region 2

1 French Separate School Board Trustee, Le Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est

Returning Officer:

Michelle Hannah

Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands

1233 Prince Street, Lansdowne, Ontario K0E 1L0

Office Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Phone: 613-659-2415 Extension: 231

Email: clerk@townshipleeds.on.ca

Join an upcoming information session to learn more about the process and what to expect. These sessions are open to anyone considering running for Council and offer the opportunity to hear directly from experienced municipal professionals, ask questions, and network with others considering running. Sessions are presented by:

Sandra MacDonald, AMCT, AOMC, CMO (CAO) and

Yvonne L. Robert, AMCT, AOMC, CMO (Retired).

• Saturday, April 25, 2026, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Elgin Hall, 47 Main Street, Elgin. Hosted by: The Township of Rideau Lakes
• Thursday, April 30, 2026, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Brockville Public Library, 23 Buell Street. Hosted by: The City of Brockville
• Thursday, May 7, 2026, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 1 Jessie Street, Lansdowne. Hosted by: The Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands
• Thursday, May 14, 2026, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The Grand Room, 360 Dibble Street, West. Hosted by: The Town of Prescott
• Thursday, May 21, 2026, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. North Grenville Municipal Centre, 285 Road #44, Kemptville. Hosted by: The Municipality of North Grenville.
• Wednesday, June 24, 2026 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Gananoque Town Hall Council Chambers, 30 King Street East, Gananoque Hosted by: The Town of Gananoque

A person is qualified to be elected or hold office, who, as of the day he or she files his or her nomination is:

• Entitled to be an elector under the Municipal Elections Act, s.17
  • Is a Canadian citizen;
  • Is at least 18 years of age;
  • Resides in the local municipality, or is the owner or tenant of land in the local municipality, or the spouse of such a person; and
  • Is not prohibited from voting as noted otherwise by law.
  • Not disqualified for violation of financial requirements or violations of requirements for filing financial information.
  • Not disqualified by any Act from holding such office
  • Not disqualified under the provisions as outlined in MEA, s 90(2) and 91(1)

For the 2026 Municipal Election the nomination period is from May 1, 2026 to August 21, 2026. Nominations may be filed either in person or by an agent with the Returning Officer on the prescribed forms, during normal business hours between Friday, May 1, 2026 to Thursday, August 20, 2026, and on Friday, August 21, 2026 (Nomination Day) between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm.

More information will be available May 1st. 

More information will be available May 1st

See the Ontario government's 2026 Third-Party Advertisers' Guide for more information on how to register as a third-party advertiser in municipal council and school board elections.

Beginning January 1, 2024, the Chief Electoral Officer of Ontario (Elections Ontario) became responsible for maintaining the voters’ list used in municipal elections and school board elections, a role previously held by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC).

What does this mean for voters?

You must now register or update your voter information through Elections Ontario by visiting www.registertovoteon.ca.

The shift to Elections Ontario managing the municipal voters’ list means that all voter registration, updates, and corrections now go through Elections Ontario.

About the Elections Ontario’s portal

You can now use Elections Ontario’s Voter Registration portal to:

• Confirm your voter information
• Update your name or address
• Add yourself if you’re missing
• Remove outdated information
• Register property‑based eligibility (important in cottage country municipalities)

Eligible voters will be able to vote by telephone or internet from the start of advanced voting on October 16, 2026 until the end of the voting period on election day at 8:00 pm on October 26, 2026. Additionally, in-person voting will be available at two advanced polling locations and on Voting Day in Seeley's Bay and Lansdowne. 

To vote you must

• Be a Canadian citizen
• Be at least 18 years old
• Be a Resident, Owner or Tenant of a Property in Ontario or Spouse of a Non-Resident Elector (see definitions below)
• Not be prohibited from voting under any law

Resident Elector

A resident elector is where a person lives and is eligible to vote in that municipality's election. A person is only allowed to have one 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 of Non-Resident Elector

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.

Students

Students can vote in the municipality where they attend school and can also vote in the municipality where they live.