Candidate and Third Party Advertiser Registration for Markham Municipal Election Opens May 1

MARKHAM, ON – February 17, 2026 - This October, an election will be held for Markham’s City Council and local school board offices. Candidates and third party political advertisers can register for the 2026 Markham Municipal Election starting May 1.

Markham voters will cast their ballot for the following offices:

• Mayor (1 position)

• Regional councillor (4 positions)

• Ward councillor (8 positions)

• York Region District School Board trustee (4 positions)

• York Catholic District School Board trustee (2 positions)

• Conseil scolaire Viamonde trustee (1 position)

• Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir trustee (1 position)

Eligible persons looking to make a difference in their community are encouraged to run for elected office. Local governments and school boards deliver important services that residents and businesses rely on every day. 

A person can be a candidate in the 2026 Markham Municipal Election if they are:

• At least 18 years old; and,

• A Canadian citizen; and,

• A resident, landowner, or tenant of Markham or the applicable school board jurisdiction; and,

• Not legally prohibited from running for office.

Candidates can register with Elections Markham until August 21 at 2 PM. Step-by-step instructions on how to register are available at ElectionsMarkham.ca/CandidateRegistration. Elections Markham will also be hosting free information sessions on what’s involved in running for office.

Candidates will be required to show ID as proof of eligibility and pay a refundable registration fee. Before registering, candidates running for Markham City Council are required to collect at least 25 original handwritten endorsement signatures from eligible Markham voters using the form available from Elections Markham.

Have something to say about the election? Any person, corporation or trade union that plans to engage in paid activity that supports or opposes a candidate in the election needs to register as a third party advertiser. Instructions on how to register and the rules around political advertising are available at ElectionsMarkham.ca/PoliticalAdvertising. The deadline to register as a third party advertiser is October 23, 2026 at 5 PM.

A person or entity cannot fundraise or spend money towards the election until they have registered with Elections Markham.

“Elections are a cornerstone of our local democracy, and the upcoming municipal and school board election is an important opportunity for residents to have their say in who represents their community,” says Kimberley Kitteringham, Markham’s City Clerk and chief election official. “Whether you’re considering running for office or preparing to vote, Elections Markham is here to ensure the process is transparent, accessible, and easy to navigate.”

Eligible voters are encouraged to visit ElectionsMarkham.ca throughout the year for the latest and most reliable information about the 2026 Markham Municipal Election.

Key Dates:

• May 1, 2026, 9 AM – Candidate and third party advertiser registration opens

• August 21, 2026, 2 PM – Candidate registration closes

• October 23, 2026, 5 PM – Third party advertiser registration closes

Useful Links:

• Candidate Registration

• Political Advertising

• Register to Vote

• Donating to a Candidate’s Campaign

Visit ElectionsMarkham.ca for the latest and most reliable information about the 2026 Markham Municipal Election.

— 30 —

All media inquiries for Elections Markham:  
media@markham.ca. 

About Elections Markham: Elections Markham is an independent non-partisan division of the City of Markham responsible for delivering City Council and local school board elections, by-elections and referendums. Markham is a leader in multi-platform election services, being Canada’s first city to vote online and maintaining one of North America’s longest-running remote online voting programs.

About Markham: Markham, an award-winning municipality with over 370,000 residents and the largest of nine communities in York Region, is home to over 650 corporate head offices and more than 1,500 high tech and life science companies. Markham is a leader in attracting foreign direct investment with more than 234 foreign companies located in the City. Founded in the 1790s, today Markham is Canada’s most diverse community and enjoys a rich heritage, outstanding community planning and services, and a vibrant local economy. 

Stay Connected: Visit our Newsroom or subscribe to MarkhamNOW for the latest information on City programs, services and events.