Municipal Elections

 Monday May 2, 2022

• First day to file a nomination for an office on West Perth Council or school board trustee during regular business hours.
• First day to file a notice of registration as a third party advertiser.

 Friday August 19, 2022  -  Nomination Day

• 9:00am to 2:00pm
• Deadline for candidates to file or withdraw a nomination

 Friday August 19 - November 14, 2022

• First possible lame duck period, should less than three-quarters of the existing Members of Council seek re-election.

 Monday August 22, 2022

• Deadline for the City Clerk to certify candidate nominations by signing the nomination paper if satisfied that a person is qualified to be nominated and that the nomination complies with the Municipal Elections Act.

 Thursday September 1, 2022

• Revision period begins for the Voters' List. This is also the last day to reproduce the voters' list and set out any revision procedures. The voters' list is made available to all candidates.

 Saturday September 24, 2022

• First possible day to hold an advance vote.
• *Advance voting period to be determined*.

 Friday October 21, 2022

• Last day for third party advertisers to file a notice of registration.

 Monday October 24, 2022  - Voting Day

• Eligible electors can vote via internet or telephone up until 8:00pm.

 Monday October 24 - November 14, 2022

• Second possible lame duck period. Lame duck is in effect should less than three-quarters of the outgoing Council be re-elected.

 Tuesday November 15, 2022

• New term of office begins.

 Monday November 21, 2022

• Inaugural Council Meeting (subject to change - deadline to hold first meeting is December 16, 2022).

Online & Telephone Voting

The Municipality of West Perth will be using of internet/telephone voting methods for the 2022 Municipal Election. Voters can choose to vote by phone or online - No paper ballot option. Internet and telephone voting allows eligible voters to cast their vote from anywhere, as long as they have an internet connection and/or access to a telephone.

 Options to cast your vote include:

• Desktop or laptop computer
• Smart phone (mobile device)
• Tablet device
• Touchtone phone

Voter Assistance Kiosk

We will offer the ability for eligible voters to come to the New Municipal Office on Wellington Street in Mitchell, to vote online with the assistance of an election attendant.

Benefits of internet and telephone voting include:

• Accessibility - Whether you are away on personal travel, suffering from illness, working days or nights, have a disability, or just have difficulty travelling, you can cast your ballot from anywhere with an internet connection or working telephone.
• Convenience - Remotely cast your vote from anywhere during the voting period using a computer, smart phone, tablet device, or touchtone phone.
• Environmentally Friendly - With voters not being required to travel to voting locations, the impact on greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced.

Mail-out voter information letter

All eligible voters in West Perth will be mailed a letter before the 2022 election that will contain:

• A Personal Identification Number (PIN) that will be used to cast your ballot (do not share your PIN with anyone!);
• A telephone number and an Internet address for voting;
• A list of candidates running for office; and
• A Revision Centre telephone number to call for assistance.

The Municipal Clerk is the Returning Officer and will be able to answer any questions you may have about the election. For any questions regarding the 2022 Municipal Election please contact the office at 519-348-8429 x224 or email; clerk@westperth.com

You are eligible to vote in the 2022 Municipal Election if you are:

• A Canadian Citizen;
• 18 years of age or older;
• A resident of the Municipality of West Perth or the owner or tenant of land in the Municipality or the spouse of such owner of tenant;
• Not prohibited from voting under any law.

Your name must be on the Voters' List in order to cast a ballot. To ensure you are on the voters’ list for 2022 municipal and school board elections, you may also visit voterlookup.ca.

VoterLookup

The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) provides the Preliminary List of Electors to each municipality before the election. To make sure you are on the list and your information is accurate, visit voterlookup.ca to check and update your information.

To be a candidate for Municipal Elections:

• Candidate must be 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 and at least 18 years old;
• not legally prohibited from voting;  and not disqualified by any legislation from holding municipal office.
• You will need 25 signatures on your nomination form and must pay a fee of $100 ($200 for mayor).

When you think about candidates for federal or provincial elections, you usually think about the political party that each candidate represents. In municipal elections in Ontario, candidates are not elected to represent a political party.

Lead Where you Live:

Elected municipal leaders play a vital role in making sure that communities are healthy and successful, socially and economically. Councils shape priorities, ensure accountability to the public, and represent the people who elect them. They provide a democratic forum for diverse perspectives and experiences to be heard, so that better decisions are made and good governance is maintained. Having people with a variety of backgrounds and lived experiences on council helps the municipality better meet the needs of all residents and businesses.

If you are thinking of running for election in 2022, AMO's guide will introduce you to some of the key steps in that process. It will also give you a sense of what life is like as an elected member of a municipal council.

• Lead Where You Live: A Guide on Running for Municipal Council

Recordings of information sessions for those thinking about running for Council:

A third party advertisement is an ad that supports, promotes, or opposes a candidate, or a “yes” or “no” answer to a question on the ballot.

Third party in this context means a person or entity who is not a candidate. Third party advertising is separate from any candidate’s campaign and must be done independently from a candidate.

Third party advertisers who wish to spend money on advertisements during the election must register with the Municipal Clerk and must file a financial statement.

Registration - Third Party Advertisers

An individual, corporation, or trade union may file with the Municipal Clerk a notice of registration to be a registered third party for the 2022 Municipal Election between May 2, 2022 and October 21, 2022 at the Municipal Office during regular business hours (Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). The notice must be filed on the prescribed form and must include a declaration of qualification signed by the individual or by a representative of the corporation or trade union, as the case may be.

If a registration is submitted by an agent who is acting on behalf of an individual who wishes to register as a Third Party Advertiser, a letter must be provided at the time of registration which authorizes the agent to register on their behalf. The letter must be signed by the third party advertiser and commissioned or notarized by a person authorized under the Commissioners for Taking Affidavits Act or Notaries Act.

Who is not permitted to register as a Third Party Advertiser?

• A candidate whose nomination has been filed with the City Clerk;
• A federal political party registered under the Canada Elections Act (Canada) or any federal constituency association or registered candidate at a federal election endorsed by that party;
• A provincial political party, constituency association, registered candidate or leadership contestant registered under the Election Finances Act; and,
• The Crown in right of Canada or Ontario, a municipality or local board.

 Municipal Elections Act

 Municipal Act