2026 Municipal Elections
Voting Day is Monday, October 26, 2026. In these elections, voters will have the option of online or in-person.
Voters of Richmond Hill will elect a Mayor, up to two Regional Councillors, a local Councillor and School Board Trustees.
Online Voting
Online voting will take place from October 20, 2026 at 10 a.m. to Voting Day, October 26, 2026 at 8 p.m.
In-Person Voting
In-person voting by paper ballot and vote tabulators will take place on:
- Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25, 2026, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Monday, October 26, 2026,10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
It is illegal to vote more than once or when not entitled to vote. It is an offence under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 and carries a maximum fine of $25,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months.
Voter Details
| Voter Eligibility: Who Can Vote |
- a Canadian citizen; and
- at least 18 years old on or before Voting Day (October 26, 2026); and
- a resident of Richmond Hill, an owner or tenant of land in the City of Richmond Hill, or the spouse of an owner or tenant of land in Richmond Hill; and
- not prohibited from voting under the Municipal Elections Act, and any law.
| Eligibility Requirements to Vote for School Board Trustee |
|
You can vote in a School Board Election if you are:
- a Canadian citizen; and
- at least 18 years old on or before Voting Day, (October 26, 2026); and
- a resident of the City of Richmond Hill, an owner or tenant of residential property in the City of Richmond Hill, or the spouse of such an owner or tenant of residential property.
- not prohibited from voting under the Municipal Elections Act, and any law.
Important:
- School boards can cover a large area of a municipality
- You are only allowed to vote for the same school board once
- If you are eligible to vote in Richmond Hill because you are the owner or tenant (or spouse of an owner or tenant) of a commercial property in Richmond Hill you are not eligible to vote for school trustee
In order to vote for a particular school board, you must be a supporter of that school board. “Supporter” refers to which school board the school portion of your property taxes goes to. The default is the public school system. In order to be a Catholic School supporter you must direct your taxes to the Catholic School system.
|
| Types of School Boards |
|
The school board trustee on your ballot is based on your school support designation on the Voters’ List, which identifies the school board that receives the education portion of your property taxes.
There are four different kinds of school boards in Ontario:
English language public school board (York District School Board) (default)
- This is the default designation, unless you are qualified to vote for a Catholic or French board, you will vote for the English public school board in your area.
English language Catholic school board (York Catholic District School Board)
- You must be a Roman Catholic, and;
- you must be a separate school board supporter or the spouse of a separate school board supporter. If your spouse is a Roman Catholic and you are not, you are not eligible.
French language public school board (Conseil scolaire Viamonde)
- You must be a French-language rights holder; and
- You must be a supporter (or the spouse of a supporter) of the French-language public school board.
French language separate school board (Conseil scolaire Catholique MonAvenir)
- You must be a Roman Catholic and;
- A French-language rights holder, and;
- You must be a supporter (or the spouse of a supporter) of the French Catholic school board. If your spouse is a Roman Catholic and you are not, you are not eligible.
| French Language Qualifications |
|
To be eligible to vote for the French language public school board (Conseil scolaire Viamonde) or the French language separate school board (Conseil scolaire Catholique MonAvenir), you must have French language qualifications as outlined in Section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
You have French language qualifications if you:
- first learned and still understand French, or
- received your elementary school instruction in Canada in French, or
- have children who received or are receiving elementary or secondary instruction in French.
Note: This does not include French immersion or French as a second language.
|
The default is the public school system. To change or confirm your school board designation please contact the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation.
|
|
|
Who Cannot Vote
|
|
You are prohibited from voting if you are:
- serving a sentence of imprisonment in a penal or correctional institution
- a corporation
- a person acting as executor or trustee or in another representative capacity; or
- convicted of a corrupt practice
|
|
Vote Centre Locations
|
|
List of in-person vote centres will be available closer to Voting Day.
|
