Lead Where You Live - A Guide to Running for Municipal Council prepared by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario

Permits are required to place election signs on public property. For more information and to apply for a permit, please visit our Sign Permit page.

Election signage must comply with the City's sign by-law and applicable York Region by-laws. 

City of Richmond Hill’s Sign By-law 52-09, as amended. 

Regional Municipality of York Sign By-law 2025-62

York Region Election Sign Guidelines

Click the hyperlinks below to view the policies and procedures related to the 2026 Municipal Elections.

Online and Tabulator Voting Procedures will be available prior to June 1, 2026.

Use of Corporate Resources for Election Campaign Purposes Policy

On June 9, 2021, Council of the City of Richmond Hill passed By-law 74-21 authorizing the use of optical scan tabulators for use with paper ballots.

• By-law 74-21

On February 23, 2022, Council of the City of Richmond Hill passed By-law 39-22 authorizing the use of internet voting in addition to voting using paper ballots and tabulators.

• By-law 39-22

Municipal elections are governed primarily by the Municipal Elections Act, 1996.

Regulations under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 also govern municipal elections, including:

• O. Reg. 101/97 is a general regulation outlining a variety of details.
• O. Reg. 304/13 dictates what kind of identification can be accepted for election purposes.

Once elected, Council derives its authority from the Municipal Act, 2001.

School Board Trustees operate within the framework of the Education Act, R.S.O. 1990, which also establishes eligibility to run for and serve in trustee offices.

The City of Richmond Hill conducts elections in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, and the City's Accessibility Policies and Procedures. For more information, visit our Accessibility page.

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH)

• MMAH reviews the Municipal Elections Act after each Ontario municipal election to determine if it meets the needs of Ontario communities and is legislatively responsible for certain nomination and campaign finance forms. 

• MPAC is legislatively responsible for collecting school support designation data. 

Elections Ontario

• Elections Ontario is legislatively responsible for preparing and maintaining a preliminary list of electors for municipalities.