2026 Information for Voters

A person is entitled to vote in the Township of Edwardsburgh Cardinal if they are a qualified elector. That means on voting day you must be:

• A Canadian citizen;
• At least 18-years-old;
• Live in the Township of Edwardsburgh Cardinal, or own or rent (tenant) property in the Township of Edwardsburgh Cardinal, or are the spouse of an owner or tenant; and
• Not prohibited from voting by law.

An owner or tenant of non-residential property, or spouse, is not eligible to vote for a School Board Trustee.

You are not eligible to vote if you are:

• A person serving a sentence of imprisonment in a penal or correctional institution;
• A corporation;
• A person acting as executor or trustee or in any other representative capacity; and
• A person convicted of a corrupt practice for an election held within four years of voting day.

Resident: If you live in Edwardsburgh Cardinal, you can vote here. It doesn’t matter if you own, rent, live with others and don’t pay rent, don’t have a fixed address – you’re still eligible. Even if you or your spouse owns or rents more than one property, you can vote in the district where you live.

Non-resident: If you live in one place but own or rent property somewhere else, you can vote in both places. You can only be a “resident elector” in one municipality, but you can be a “non-resident elector” in any other place in Ontario where you own or rent property.

You or your spouse do not qualify as a non-resident elector if you do not own or rent property in Edwardsburgh Cardinal. For example, if your business owns the property or your cottage is owned by a trust, you cannot vote in the Edwardsburgh Cardinal municipal election.

If you’re a student living away from home for school, you are considered a non-resident voter and can vote in both your home community (where you usually live and plan to return) and the municipality where you live while at school.

Everyone on the Voters List gets a Voter Information Letter. This tells you where and when to vote, and gives you a voter ID number for online and telephone voting. It also lists early voting days and Election Day details. Bring your Voter Information Letter with you to vote and a piece of ID to help the process go faster.

You must present one of the following documents, showing your name and address:

1. Ontario driver's licence
2. Ontario Health Card (photo card)
3. Ontario Photo Card
4. Ontario motor vehicle permit (vehicle portion)
5. Cancelled personalized cheque
6. Mortgage statement, lease or rental agreement relating to property in Ontario
7. Insurance policy or insurance statement
8. Loan agreement or other financial agreement with a financial institution
9. Document issued or certified by a court in Ontario
10. Any other document from the Government of Canada, Ontario or a municipality in Ontario, or from an agency or such a government
11. Any document from a Band Council in Ontario established under the Indian Act (Canada)
12. Income tax assessment notice
13. Child tax benefit statement
14. Statement of employment insurance benefits paid T4E
15. Statement of old age security T4A (OAS)
16. Canada Pension Plan statement of contributions
17. Statement of direct deposit for Ontario Works
18. Statement of direct deposit for Ontario Disability Support Program
19. Workplace Safety and Insurance Board statement of benefits T5007
20. Property tax assessment
21. Credit card statement, bank account statement, or RRSP, RRIF, RHOSP or T5 statement
22. CNIB Card or a card from another registered charitable organization that provides services to persons with disabilities
23. Hospital card or record
24. Document showing campus residence, issued by the office or officials responsible for student residence at a post-secondary institution
25. Document showing residence at a long-term care home under the Long-Term Care Homes Act, issued by the administrator for the home
26. Utility bill for hydro, water, gas, telephone or cable TV, or a bill from a public utilities commission
27. Cheque stub, T4 statement or pay receipt issued by an employer
28. Transcript or report card from a post-secondary school

In order to vote in a school board election you must be 18 years of age or older and a Canadian citizen. If you are a resident, property owner or tenant in the Township, you are eligible to vote for school board trustees. You are only allowed to vote for the same school board once.

If you are eligible to vote in the Township because you are the owner or tenant (or spouse of an owner or tenant) of a commercial property, you are not eligible to vote for a school trustee.  

There are four different kinds of school boards in Ontario:

1. English-language public school board:
   This is the default - unless you are qualified to vote for a separate or French board, you will vote for the English public school board in your area.
   
   
2. English-language separate school board:
   You must be Roman Catholic and you must be a separate school board supporter or the spouse of a separate school board supporter. If your spouse is Roman Catholic and you are not, you are not eligible to vote for the board.
   
   
3. French-language public school board:
   You must be Roman Catholic and you must be a separate school board supporter or the spouse of a separate school board supporter. If your spouse is Roman Catholic and you are not, you are not eligible to vote for the board.
   
   
4. French-language separate school board:
   You must be Roman Catholic and a French language rights holder and you must be a supporter (or the spouse of a supporter) of the French separate school board. If your spouse is Roman Catholic and you are not, you are not eligible to vote for the 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 separate school supporter, you must direct your taxes to the separate school system. Contact the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (1-866-296-6722) for more information.

Vote at your own convenience by internet or telephone.

A Voter Information Letter will be mailed to you directly in the month of October, providing you with a Personal Identification Number (PIN) which will allow you to vote 24 hours a day for 8 days, from Monday, October 19 at 10 a.m. to Monday, October 26 at 8 p.m., from any touch tone telephone or any device connected to the internet. 

As an added security feature, you will be asked to add your date of birth before voting. If you are unsure that your full date of birth is on the voters’ list, contact the Clerk's Department after August 13, 2026. 

Voting in person by paper ballot will be offered on Election Day, Monday, October 26, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the following locations:

• Drummond Building, 22 Ryan St., Spencerville
• South Edwardsburgh Community Centre, 24 Sutton Dr., Johnstown
• Ingredion Centre, 4050 Dishaw St., Cardinal

If you do not have access to a telephone, internet or a device with internet, or need assistance casting your votes during the advanced voting period, you can come to the Township Office located at 18 Centre Street, Spencerville during regular office hours Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for voter assistance.