Voter Information

Mail-in Voting Procedures

Municipal Election 2026 for the Township of Plummer Additional

Legislation: Municipal Elections Act

General

• Every eligible elector shall be limited to only one vote through the use of mail-in ballots.
• Each person at the same residence who registers for Mail-in Voting will receive their own personally addressed Mail-in Ballot Kit.
• Mail-in Ballot Kits will include instructions, a self-addressed return envelope, a ballot, and a ballot secrecy envelope with an attached declaration.
• Ballot kits that are lost or destroyed in the mail may be replaced upon request. The first kit shall be recorded as rejected. Any attempts to duplicate votes will be discovered through the procedures with only the first ballot considered to be valid.
• It is the responsibility of the voter to ensure that they have followed the instructions included in the kit exactly. Clarifying questions may be directed to the Clerk at any time during the mail-in ballot process.
• It is the responsibility of the voter to ensure that the ballot is received by the Deputy Returning Officer (DRO) before 8:00 p.m. on October 26, 2026.

Registration

• All property owners in who are mailed a tax bill will receive one registration form for a mail-in ballot kit, even though not all property owners may be eligible to vote.
• Should multiple eligible voters live at the same address, additional registration forms are available online on the Township’s website or at the Township office or by email as requested.
• To be eligible to vote by mail, an elector must be on the Voters List or able to apply to add or update their information on the Voters List.
• A voter who wishes to vote by mail will be required to complete the registration form and provide a copy of acceptable identification.
• The registration form is also a declaration form.
• The signed and completed registration/declaration form and identification will be sent to the Township Clerk for verification.
• The forms may be returned by mail to the attention of the Clerk or may be sent by email to lcotnam@plummertownship.ca
• Registration forms will also be available by July 1, 2026, on the Township website and at the Township office.

Mailing Ballot Kits

• The Clerk will keep a list of verified voters and will send a mail-in ballot kit via Canada Post to each voter starting Sept 11, 2026.
• The last day to request a registration form is October 5, 2026
• The last day mail-in ballot kits will be mailed is October 7, 2026

Receiving Returned Ballots

• Mail-in ballots shall be returned to the Township office.
• Mail-in ballots may be received by regular mail or courier, brought to the office in person during regular business hours or deposited in the secure drop box any time.
• Mail-in ballots must be received at the Township office no later than 4:00 p.m. on Election Day, October 26, 2026.
• After 4:00 p.m. on Election Day, mail-in ballots will only be accepted at the polling station at the Bruce Mines Hall, 109 Station Rd, Bruce Mines.
• Mail-in ballots will be accepted in-person at the polling station from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on October 26, 2026.

Validating Mail-in Ballots

• Mail-in ballots will be processed by two election officials.
• All envelopes containing sealed secrecy envelopes will be opened as they arrive at the Township office.
• Electors will be verified against the mail-in ballot voters’ list and struck off the voters’ list.
• The secrecy envelopes containing the ballots shall be deposited into the sealed ballot box.
• The ballot box shall be kept in a locked closet that is only opened when depositing a secrecy envelope under the custody of two election officials.

Counting Mail-in Ballots

• At the close of the election at 8:00 p.m., the ballot box shall be unsealed by the DRO.
• Candidates or scrutineers in their place may witness the counting of votes.
• The appointed election officials will assist the DRO in counting and validating all ballots in the box.
• Counting procedures are detailed in the In Person Voting Procedures.