The next municipal election will be held on Monday, October 26, 2026
Voter Information
Who Can Vote?
In order to be eligible to vote, you must meet the Qualifications of Electors as listed in the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, s.17(2).
Eligible voter must be:
- A Canadian Citizen;
- At least 18 years old on election day; and
- Live in Southwest Middlesex, or own or rent property here, or are the spouse of an owner or tenant in Southwest Middlesex
Students
Students attending school away from home may be eligible to vote in multiple municipalities. If a student’s permanent residence and temporary student home are in different municipalities or a Territory Without Municipal Organization area, they can update or add their “home address” as their permanent family residence and list their student home as an additional property they, or their spouse own or rent.
How Do I Vote?
Eligible voters will be using telephone/internet voting for the 2026 Municipal Election
Am I on the Voters' List?
If you voted in a Provincial or Federal Election, it does not guarantee that you are on the Voters' List for the Municipal Election.
Elections Ontario manages a single register of electors for both provincial and municipal elections in Ontario. You can check to see if your name is on the voters' list or manage your information through the voter registration service. You can also update or manage your school support through the MPAC school support tool.
List of Registered Candidates
Candidates who file a Nomination Form with the Clerks Office will be updated here. The chart will be updated at the end of each business day, as new nominations are received.
Last updated: May 1, 2026.
| Mayor - One (1) to be Elected | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name of Unofficial Candidate | Qualifying Address | Contact Information |
| Mike Sholdice | 22842 Big Bend Road Southwest Middlesex, N0L 1Z0 | 519-872-4357 |
| Deputy Mayor - One (1) to be Elected | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name of Unofficial Candidate | Qualifying Address | Contact Information |
| Councillor, Ward 1 - Two (2) to be Elected | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name of Unofficial Candidate | Qualifying Address | Contact Information |
| Councillor, Ward 2 - Two (2) to be Elected | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name of Unofficial Candidate | Qualifying Address | Contact Information |
| Councillor, Ward 3 - Two (2) to be Elected | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name of Unofficial Candidate | Qualifying Address | Contact Information |
Key Dates
- Friday, May 1, 2026: Nomination Period Begins
- Friday, August 21, 2026: Nomination Day is the last day to submit or withdraw a nomination to the Clerk between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
- Monday, August 24, 2026: Nominations to be certified by the Clerk by 4:00 p.m.
- Monday, October 26, 2026: Election Day
Ward Maps
The Municipality of Southwest Middlesex is divided into three wards.
View the interactive ward map to find your ward.
Candidate Information
Candidate Eligibility
In Ontario municipal elections, candidates are not elected to represent a political party. An eligible candidate is:
- a resident of the municipality or a non-resident owner or tenant of land in the municipality or the spouse of such non-resident owner or tenant
- a Canadian citizen
- at least 18 years old
- not legally prohibited from voting
- not disqualified by any legislation from holding municipal office
The following persons are disqualified from being elected to municipal office:
- any person not eligible to vote in a municipality
- any employee of a municipality unless he or she takes an unpaid leave of absence before being nominated and resigns, if elected to the office
- a judge of any court
- a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, a Senator, or a member of the House of Commons
- an inmate of a penal or correctional institution under sentence of imprisonment
Candidate Registration Process
Book an appointment
To submit your nomination, please call 519-287-2015 or email the Clerk's office to make an appointment Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.
The appointment will take at least 30 minutes
Walk-ins will be accepted, but may have to wait until the Municipal Designated Official is available
At the time of filing, Candidates must:
- submit a completed Nomination Package
- show proof of identity and residency in the municipality (identification showing name and address)
- show proof of citizenship (passport, birth certificate)
- pay the filing fee of $200 for Mayor and $100 for Councillor
Filing a Nomination
To run as a candidate in the 2026 municipal election, nomination forms must be filed in person at the municipal office, located at 153 McKellar Street, Glencoe, Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Nomination packages are available for pickup during regular business hours. Booking an appointment to submit your nomination papers is strongly recommended to ensure staff availability. The nomination period starts on May 1, 2026 and ends on August 21, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.
To file a nomination, the Nomination Paper (Form 1) must be accompanied by an Endorsement of Nomination (Form 2), signed by 25 individuals who are Canadian citizens, aged 18 or older and have a qualifying address in the municipality. It is recommended that each candidate exceed 25 signatures to ensure that all meet the necessary requirements.
When filing your nomination, you will need:
- Printed copies of the required forms (e-mail, mail-in, or facsimile transmissions are not permitted)
- Government issued photo ID
- If the qualifying address does not appear on the photo ID, a lease or bill with the persons name on it to confirm the qualifying address
- Filing Fee paid in the form of cash, debit, or cheque made payable to the Municipality of Southwest Middlesex
- Filing Fee for Mayor: $200
- Filing Fee for Deputy Mayor and Councillor: $100
Candidates may begin campaigning as soon as their nomination papers have been filed.
Candidates can withdraw their nomination by filing an official withdrawal of Nomination Form and submitting it in-person to the Clerk before 2:00 p.m. Friday August 21, 2026.
Additional Provincial forms for the 2026 Municipal Election are provided below for your reference and use.
Procedures, Notices & Resources
Procedures
2026 Municipal Election Procedures
Legislation
Notices
Notice of Nomination for Office
Candidate Resources
Middlesex County Joint Campaign Information Session
Don’t miss these free learning opportunities and resources from Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO)
Lead Where You Live: A guide to running for municipal council
Provincial Municipal Candidates' Guide
AMO’s Healthy Democracy Leaders Online Workshop Series: Stronger Leaders, Stronger Communities
Free workshops available in two streams:
- Stream 1: For current municipal elected officials considering re-election in 2026 and planning their path forward.
- Stream 2: For community members considering a first run for municipal office in 2026- including first time candidates looking to build confidence before launching a campaign. Civic-minded leaders who want to explore whether elected office is right for them.
AMO is also offering a series of workshops specifically for young people thinking about running for municipal office in the October 2026 election.