Algonquin Highlands Votes
Thinking of running for Council? Join us for a Candidate Information Session on May 5, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion in Haliburton at 719 Mountain Street. This session will give you an understanding of Council's roles and responsibilities.
Who Should Attend?
Potential candidates
Spouse or partner
Anyone interested in learning more about local government
This is a free event.
Algonquin Highlands Council
The Council for the Township of Algonquin Highlands is comprised of the Mayor and four Councillors representing three Wards, one of whom is elected by Council to serve as Deputy Mayor for the term. The Mayor and Deputy Mayor also serve as Councillors on the upper-tier Council for the County of Haliburton.
There are two regular Algonquin Highlands Council meetings per month, with the exception of December, June, July and August, when one meeting per month is held. Special meetings are also called as required, and two special Budget meetings typically take place early each year. Council members are also required to take part in Advisory Committee meetings, each assigned various portfolios.
The nomination period for the 2026 municipal election starts May 1, 2026 and runs until August 21, 2026.
Nomination forms are available from the Office of the Clerk. A nomination must be signed by the candidate and may be filed in person, or by an agent, by appointment only, during regular business hours between May 1, 2026 and August 20, 2026, and between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Friday, August 21, 2026 (Nomination Day). A candidate must also obtain 25 signatures on the prescribed form from individuals eligible to vote in Algonquin Highlands on the day they signed the endorsement.
Nomination forms will be available beginning May 1.
A candidate for municipal office must, upon nomination, be a qualified municipal elector and fulfill all of the following requirements:
Reside in the Township of Algonquin Highlands, or be the owner or tenant of land in Algonquin Highlands, or the spouse of such owner or tenant; and
Be a Canadian citizen; and
Be at least 18 years old; and
Not be legally prohibited from voting; and
Not be disqualified by any legislation from holding municipal office
Please note: You must be eligible to hold office on the day you file your nomination. For example, a person who is 17 years old but will turn 18 before nomination day must wait until they have turned 18 to file their nomination.
Who is not eligible?
Any person who is not eligible to vote in the municipality
An employee of the municipality who has not taken an unpaid leave and resigned
A judge on any court
An MP, MPP or Senator
An inmate serving a sentence in a penal or correctional institution
Are You Interested in Running for Council?
The Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) is hosting free online workshops that are designed to assist current municipal officials and first-time candidates.
The workshops are being offered in two streams:
The Mayor is the Head of Council, and fulfils the following functions and duties:
Acts as the Chief Executive Officer of the municipality;
Presides over Council meetings so that its business can be carried out efficiently and effectively;
Provides leadership to the Council;
Represents the municipality at official functions; and
Carries out the duties of the Head of Council under the Municipal Act, 2001, or any other Act
Attend Council and Committee meetings (Councillors will be assigned commitee portfolios at the beginning of the Council Term. Each member of Council can expect to be a member of two to four committees for the duration the term.)
Attend meetings of community groups, such as property owners' and lake associations
Attend official Township functions and events
Meet with and respond to calls and emails from constituents
The role of Council is to represent the public and to consider the well-being and best interests of the Township as a whole, for the long term.
Council is responsible for developing and evaluating policies and programs for the municipality; evaluating the services which the Municipality provides; and ensuring the maintenance of the financial integrity of the municipality.
Councillors are governors, not managers. They have no involvement in day-to-day operations and don't direct staff. They do, however, make decisions at Council meetings that provide direction to staff through the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), who is the manager of the corporation. Council ensures the administrative policies, practices and procedures of the corporation provide for accountability and transparency.
Councillors make decisions as a group in scheduled, public Council meetings. While the Mayor has additional duties under the Municipal Act, provides leadership, and acts as the Chair of Council meetings, he or she has only one of the votes at the Council table.
There are three electoral wards in the Township of Algonquin Highlands. Ward 1 is comprised of the former Township of Sherborne, and includes part of Dorset. Ward 2 includes the former Township of Stanhope. Ward 3 is comprised of the former Townships of McClintock, Livingstone, Lawrence & Nightingale.
Make Sure You're on the Voters' List!
Are you registered to vote in the 2026 Ontario Municipal and School Board Elections on October 26? You can register, confirm you are on the list, that all your information is accurate, or update your information here.
Elections Ontario became responsible for maintaining the register of electors for municipal and provincial elections in Ontario in January of 2024.
NOTE: Please ensure your Algonquin Highlands property address postal code has been updated to K0M 1S0 in order to receive your Voter Information Letter in October! You can update your postal code here.
For more information on the 2026 Municipal Election, contact Clerk/Deputy CAO Dawn Newhook at 705-489-2379, Ext. 333 or email ahelection2026@algonquinhighlands.ca
Electors are hereby given notice that if a greater number of candidates are certified than are required to fill the said offices, voting will be conducted using Internet and Telephone Voting.
Contact Information
Dawn Newhook
Municipal Clerk/Deputy CAO
Phone: 705-489-2379, Ext. 333
Email:
ahelection2026@algonquinhighlands.ca
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