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Anyone can vote in a municipal election who, on the day of the election, is:
18 years of age or older
a Canadian citizen; and
either a resident of the municipality or a property owner or tenant or the spouse or same sex partner of an owner or tenant in the municipality during a specified time just before the election.
What is different about the 2022 election?
The voting method for the 2022 election has changed from Vote by Mail with tabulators to Internet Vote. There are many advantages to Internet Vote including less travel, removing time constraints, fewer lineups at Election Help Centres and improved accessibility for persons with disabilities or people who are ill or away from home.
When, where and how do I vote?
The voting period will be from Monday, October 17 to Monday, October 24, 2022, and you will be able to vote at any time of day during that period from your own home. All you need is the internet and a device such as a laptop, tablet or phone.
To vote, you will need the PIN that is present on the Voter Information Letter you received in the mail and your full birth date.
Please watch this video which outlines the internet voting process.
What if I need more information or help?
If you have any difficulties, please email election@brighton.ca, call 613.475.0670 and press 3 or visit one of our Election Help Centres.
Election Help Centre Schedule
Brighton Public Library - 35 Alice Street, Brighton
October 17, 2022 10am-6pm
October 18, 2022 10am-8pm
October 19, 2022 10am-6pm
October 20, 2022 10am-8pm
October 21, 2022 10am-6pm
October 22, 2022 10am-4pm
October 24, 2022 10am-8pm
Codrington Library - 2992 County Road 30, Codrington
October 18, 2022 9:30am-12:30pm
October 23, 2022 10am-1pm
Smithfield Carman United Church, 872 Smith Street, Brighton
October 20, 2022 1pm-5pm
Voters' List
If you are an Ontario resident over the age of 18, you should confirm that you are on the voters' list. Verify that your information is correct and if necessary, change your school support for electoral purposes or add additional names of those who live at your address.
Updating this information will help ensure that municipal voters’ lists are accurate and up to date in preparation for the 2022 municipal and school board elections.
Voter's List
Check MPAC’s List of Municipal & School Board Electors to ensure your information is accurate for the 2022 Municipal Election by clicking this link:
You must be eligible to vote in the municipality in order to run for a position on council.
On the day you file your nomination, you must be a Canadian citizen aged 18 or older, and qualify as a resident or non-resident elector.
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 the end of the nomination period must wait until they have turned 18 to file their nomination.
You must file the appropriate paperwork when you submit your nomination - documents will be available soon.
Running for School Board Trustee
In order to run for a trustee position on a school board you must be a resident within the jurisdiction of the board, and you must be eligible to vote in a school board election.
On the day you file your nomination, you must be a Canadian citizen aged 18 or older, and you must meet any other qualifications to vote for the school board (for example, being a Roman Catholic, or holding French language rights).
You must file the appropriate paperwork when you submit your nomination - documents will be available soon.
How does nomination work?
When and how is nomination done?
Candidates who intend to run in the 2022 Municipal Election must file all necessary documentation along with the required filing fee during the nomination period, which runs from May 2 – August 19, 2022.
Nomination Day on August 19, 2022 is the last day to file a nomination, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Filing must be done in person or by an agent (not by mail, email or fax) with the Clerk at 35 Alice Street, Brighton, ON during regular business hours (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).
Nomination Requirements
Along with the following nomination requirements, candidates may need to fill out additional documentation at the time of nomination.
Requirements
Identification for proof of identity (ex. Driver's Licence, Passport, Birth Certificate, etc.)
A complete copy of the Nomination Paper (Form 1)
Filing Fee (to be returned upon successful filing of your campaign financial statement)
$200 for Mayoral candidates
$100 for Deputy Mayor, Councillor or School Board Trustee candidates
A declaration of qualification (Form 2) from 25 individuals endorsing the nomination (Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Council candidates only)
each person who signs the candidate's endorsement may endorse more than one nomination
all persons endorsing a nomination must be eligible to vote in an election for an office within Brighton, if a regular election was held on the day that the person endorses the nomination
endorsements must be completed and signed on Form 2
School Board Trustee candidates do not require endorsements
What positions can I run for?
The 2022 Municipal Election is for the following positions:
1 Mayor
1 Deputy Mayor
5 Councillors
1 Trustee for the English Language Public District School Board
1 Trustee for the English Language Separate District School Board
1 Trustee for the French Language Public School Board
1 Trustee for the French Language Separate School Board
To represent the public and to consider the well-being and interests of the municipality;
To develop and evaluate the policies and programs of the municipality;
To determine which services the municipality provides;
To ensure that administrative policies, practices and procedures and controllership policies, practices and procedures are in place to implement the decisions of council;
To ensure the accountability and transparency of the operations of the municipality, including the activities of the senior management of the municipality;
To maintain the financial integrity of the municipality; and
To carry out the duties of council under this or any other Act.
To act as chief executive officer of the municipality;
Preside over council meetings so that its business can be carried out efficiently and effectively;
To provide leadership to the council;
Without limiting clause, to provide information and recommendations to the council with respect to the role of council described in clauses 224 (d) and (d.1);
To represent the municipality at official functions; and
To carry out the duties of the head of council under this or any other Act.
As chief executive officer of a municipality, the head of council shall,
uphold and promote the purposes of the municipality;
promote public involvement in the municipality’s activities;
act as the representative of the municipality both within and outside the municipality, and promote the municipality locally, nationally and internationally; and
participate in and foster activities that enhance the economic, social and environmental well-being of the municipality and its residents.
Additional Roles of Deputy Mayor
alternate member for County Council if Head of Council is unable to attend
holds all duties, rights, powers and authority of the Head of Council during the absence, illness or refusal to act by the Head of Council
Other Roles for Members of Council
Attendance at municipal functions and ceremonies
community groups meetings like service clubs or charity groups
Individual constituent meetings
Committees of Council
Time Commitments
Regular Meetings of Council - 4-10 hours/month
Special Meetings of Council - possibly 2-6 hours/month
Council Meeting agenda review and reading - 4-6 hours/month
Committee Meetings - varies 6 hours/month
Constituent issues - varies 20 hours/month
Processing emails, phone calls, research - 10-15 hours/month
Attendance at conferences, community events, training opportunities - varies
What do I need to know about campaigning?
A complete Candidates' Information Guide is coming soon and an information session for candidates will be held. Please review the Use of Corporate Resources for Election Purposes Policy for information regarding using Brighton logos or images as well as campaigning at public events.
You may set up a campaign office on private property. Please be aware that you may not put up signs on the exterior or in the windows of the office that promote your candidacy prior to the date when signs are permitted. Prior to that date, signs may state your name only.
Be advised that all candidates must open a campaign bank account.
Financial Reporting Requirements
All candidates (including acclaimed or withdrawn candidates) are required to file a financial statement using the prescribed form. It is good practice for campaigns to review the Financial Statement form prior to incurring any contributions or expenses, and arrange their accounts, spreadsheets, and ledgers according to the various categories that are required to be reported on the form. Candidates, whose campaign contributions and total expenses exceed $10,000.00 are required to file an auditor’s report with their financial statement that has been prepared by an auditor licenced under the Public Accounting Act.
Financial statements are due in the Clerk’s Office at the Municipal Centre (35 Alice Street, Brighton, ON) between January 3, 2023 and 2:00 p.m. on March 31, 2023. Complete and signed financial statements may be filed electronically to cdoiron@brighton.ca during the prescribed filing period. The date of the electronic submission shall be the official date received.
Note: The entire Financial Report is considered a public document. These documents may be inspected by any person upon request at the Office of the Clerk during normal office hours, and will also be available online. Any person may make extracts from the documents and is entitled to copies. Clerks are required to make the documents available electronically, at no cost to the requester.
All financial reports are posted on brighton.ca. This includes a listing of the names and address of all contributors. You may wish to consider advising contributors that their personal information will be public and displayed on the Municipal web site after the election. The information remains on the website until after the next municipal election.
A Third Party Advertisement is a message in any medium, i.e., signs, billboard, newspaper, radio, etc. promoting or opposing a candidate, or a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to a question, referendum, or an issue associated with a person or political party participating in an election. Advertising that does not cost money to post or broadcast, such as comments made on social media or email, is not considered a Third Party Advertisement.
Third Party Advertisers may not spend more than the limit identified on the Certificate of Maximum Permitted Expenses which will be provided once the Third Party has registered. Third Party Advertisers can only incur expenses during the campaign period, which begins on the day the Third Party Advertiser registers with the Clerk and ends on December 31, 2022.
Who can register as a Third Party?
Individuals, corporations and trade unions are eligible to register as a Third Party Advertiser, provided they register with the Clerk. Registrations may be filed between May 2, 2022 and October 21, 2022. Please refer to the Third Party Information Package, for all required forms and additional information.
The following are not permitted to register as a Third Party Advertiser:
individuals who have filed nomination papers with the Clerk (or anyone under their direction);
federal and provincial political parties, constituency associations, registered candidates and leadership contestants; and,
federal and provincial governments, a municipality or school board.
