The Town of Collingwood has officially started the countdown to the 2026 municipal election, with the nomination period for local government positions set to begin on May 1, 2026.
Residents interested in serving their community can file their nominations at Town Hall until August 21, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Candidates looking to run for the offices of Mayor, Deputy Mayor, seven Councillor positions, or school board trustee must obtain 25 endorsement signatures from eligible voters and pay a filing fee of $200 for the office of Mayor or $100 for all other positions. The election process is being overseen by Sara Almas, the Director of Legislative Services and Clerk for the Town of Collingwood.
Collingwood uses an at-large election system, meaning all voters will cast ballots for candidates who represent the entire municipality rather than specific wards. When residents head to the polls on October 26, 2026, they will have multiple ways to participate. Internet voting will be available starting October 8, 2026, while traditional paper ballots will be offered during advance polls on October 15, 22, and 25, as well as on the final election day.
Beyond candidate campaigns, groups or individuals interested in running advertisements to support or oppose candidates may register as third-party advertisers between May 1 and October 23, 2026. As the election season progresses, the Collingwood Chamber of Commerce typically hosts all-candidates meetings, which serve as an opportunity for the public to learn more about those seeking office.
In the last municipal election held in 2022, the town saw a voter turnout of 39.67 percent.
