2026 Municipal Election Voting Methods

The Town of Pelham is working to learn the preferences on voting methods from the community to provide information to assist Pelham Council in deciding what format and technology to use for the upcoming 2026 Municipal and School Board Election.

Three items should be considered when considering voting methods:

1. Secrecy and Confidentiality: Ensuring the secrecy and confidentiality of the vote is paramount for maintaining the security of the electoral process.
2. Integrity and Verifiability: It is essential that the integrity of the voting process is upheld and that the final results accurately reflect the votes cast by the electorate.
3. Accessibility: The voting process should be accessible to all eligible candidates and voters, minimizing barriers to participation.

Several voting methods are utilized in municipal elections across Ontario. Understanding these methods is essential for promoting transparency, optimizing efficiency, and ensuring informed decision-making in the electoral process.

The following methods and the estimated costs to the taxpayer, in no particular order, are being evaluated as potential voting options in the 2026 Municipal and School Board Election:

1. In-Person Voting - estimated cost of $125,875.50
2. Postal Voting (Vote by Mail) - estimated cost of $84,932.06
3. Online Voting (Internet Voting) - estimated cost of $35,390.00

A survey, available on October 1, has been established to collect preferences from Pelham residents on the types of voting methods that they would be comfortable using to cast a ballot in the 2026 Municipal Election.

The 2026 Municipal Election Day is Monday, October 26, 2026.