Peterborough County council is sounding the alarm for voters and the Ontario government alike that there are discrepancies on the voters’ list for the 2026 municipal election.
A motion brought before council on Wednesday (June 24) by North Kawartha Township mayor Carolyn Amyotte urges the province to prioritize the verification of all voter information in a timely manner.
“It’s really important that we get these lists as accurate and as complete as possible, prior to them being handed over to the municipalities,” Amyotte told kawarthaNOW following the notice of motion.
On October 26, residents of the eight municipalities that form Peterborough County — Township of Asphodel-Norwood, Township of Cavan-Monaghan, Township of Douro-Dummer, Township of Havelock-Belmont-Methuen, Township of North Kawartha, Township of Otonabee-South Monaghan, Township of Selwyn, and Municipality of Trent Lakes — will be voting for members of their lower-tier councils whose leadership makes up the membership of county council.
Amyotte said that many residents of the county live in the region on a temporary or transient basis, referring in particular to seasonal cottage owners. It is these individuals that Amyotte noticed were not included consistently on voter registration lists provided by the province.
In 2022, the Ontario government passed Bill 204 stating that Elections Ontario would be taking over responsibility for the provision of voter registration lists for municipal elections from the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC).
Unlike elections at the provincial and federal level, during municipal elections individuals may vote in multiple municipalities where they own property or reside. However, according to Amyotte, this is not always known by cottage owners.
“A lot of folks don’t realize that they can actually vote where they cottage, as long as they’re a property owner,” Amyotte said.
Earlier this month, Amyotte noticed a significant reduction in the number of eligible voters, compared to the 2022 municipal election, when reviewing the registration lists with the election returning officer.
Although she recognizes that voters continue to register every day, initially Amyotte identified over a 40 per cent reduction in eligible voters listed.
“It was significantly and noticeably impacting the non-resident eligible voters, which for us is seasonal residents — that’s cottagers,” she added.
In its voter’s guide, the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing states that individuals can qualify to vote in a municipality as a non-resident voter “if you own or rent property in a municipality, but it’s not the one where you live.”
This also includes students living away from their home community to attend post-secondary education, if they intend on returning after their schooling is completed.
Amyotte said that data accuracy is especially important at the municipal level due to the high percentage of people using remote voting options such as mail-in ballots or telephone voting. As such, voters may not have the opportunity to register in-person at the polling station on October 26.
Both Amyotte and Municipality of Trent Lakes deputy mayor Carol Armstrong, who seconded Amyotte’s motion at council, spoke about the importance of non-resident voters ensuring they are registered in their Peterborough County municipalities to make sure their voice is heard.
“Not to be dramatic, but it ends up being taxation without representation,” said Armstrong at Wednesday’s council meeting.
During the meeting, Peterborough County warden Bonnie Clark said she had discussed the issue of non-resident voters being unintentionally omitted from voting lists at an executive meeting for the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO). Clark noted that awareness of this issue was not comprehensive across all AMO board members.
“We need to get the word out, how best we can,” said Clark.
Amyotte’s resolution, which passed council unanimously, will be shared with the Premier, provincial partners including MPPs, the AMO and the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA), and other municipalities and relevant partners.
“Your vote is your voice — so speak up,” said Amyotte.
A list of all uncertified candidates registered in each of Peterborough County’s eight municipalities, as of June 29, is provided below. Each municipality’s council comprises a mayor, deputy mayor, and three councillors.
Township of Asphodel-Norwood
- Mayor: Patrick Wilford (incumbent), Rodger Bonneau, Stephanie Hodge-Greaves
- Deputy Mayor: Lori Burtt (incumbent)
- Councillor at Large (three): Paula Warr (incumbent), Barry Walsh (incumbent), Trever Donnelly, Joseph Maddison, Cory Kozmik
Township of Cavan Monaghan
- Mayor: None to date
- Deputy Mayor: None to date
- Ward 1: Nelson Edgerton (incumbent)
- Ward 2: None to date
- Ward 3: Lance Nachoff (incumbent), David Lundrigan
Township of Douro-Dummer
- Mayor: J. Murray Jones, Peter Leahy
- Deputy Mayor: Harold Nelson (incumbent), April Hope
- Councillor at Large: Thomas Watt (incumbent)
- Douro Ward: Ray Johnston (incumbent)
- Dummer Ward: Jane Cooper
Township of Havelock-Belmont-Methuen
- Mayor: Jim Martin (incumbent)
- Deputy Mayor: Kathy Clement, Hart Webb (incumbent)
- Councillor at Large (three): Beverly Flagler (incumbent), Bill Seabrook, Krista Thomas, Paul Wood, Richard Wood
Township of North Kawartha
- Mayor: Carolyn Amyotte (incumbent)
- Deputy Mayor: Ruth Anne McIlmoyl
- Councillor at Large: None to date
- Ward 1 (previously Chandos): Bruce Paterson
- Ward 2 (previously Burleigh Anstruther): Jim Whelan, Guy Sprung
Township of Otonabee-South Monaghan
- Mayor: Bonnie Clark
- Deputy Mayor: Mark Allen
- Councillor at Large: Tara Loucks, Joe Crowley
- Otonabee Ward: Nick Powers (incumbent)
- South Monaghan Ward: Terry Holmes (incumbent)
Township of Selwyn
- Mayor: Ron Black
- Deputy Mayor: None to date
- Ennismore Ward (Ward 10): Mary Coulas
- Smith Ward (Ward 20): None to date
- Lakefield Ward (Ward 30): Michael Barrett
Township of Otonabee-South Monaghan
- Mayor: Terry Lambshead (incumbent)
- Deputy Mayor: John Braybrook
- Councillor at Large: Carol Armstrong
- Harvey Ward: Peter Franzen (incumbent)
- Galway-Cavendish Ward: Joe Cadigan (incumbent), Caroline McGee, Ira Peters
