Cobourg enters election season with special website

Victoria Hall

By Cecilia Nasmith

The Town of Cobourg Legislative Services Division has launched CobourgVotes.ca, a website dedicated to keeping the community informed throughout this year's municipal and school-board elections.

CobourgVotes.ca provides comprehensive information for both voters and candidates – residents can find details on how, when and where to vote, while prospective candidates can access information on the nomination process and campaigning in Cobourg.

The site also features a detailed Frequently Asked Questions page and, on Election Day, will provide unofficial results. The website will be regularly updated to ensure the community has access to accurate, timely information as Election Day draws closer.

Municipal Clerk (and Election Returning Officer) Brent Larmer described the site as “a centralized and reliable source of information for the 2026 Municipal and School Board Election “Municipal council decisions affect the daily lives of all residents, and we encourage everyone to stay informed, participate, consider running and get ready to exercise your right to vote,” Larmer said.

Election Day is Monday, Oct. 26, with the voting period opening Friday, Oct. 16. Cobourg elections are conducted online, making it easy and convenient for eligible voters to cast ballots from anywhere.

Residents are encouraged to visit www.RegisterToVoteON.ca to ensure they are on the Voter's List and that their information is correct. To be eligible for the municipal election you must be a Canadian citizen aged 18 or older who is not otherwise prohibited from voting by law, and who meets residence requirements – being a resident of the municipality, a non-resident who owns or rents property in the municipality, or the spouse of an owner or tenant of property in the municipality.

As for the school board election, the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation is responsible for collecting school-support information from eligible electors – you can update this designation at mpac.ca/schoolsupport

The candidate nomination period opens May 1. The Cobourg Votes site has resources for prospective candidates, with a booking platform to be launched closer to the nomination period. Candidates are encouraged to schedule an appointment to file their nomination papers.

The Town of Cobourg will host a Municipal Election Candidate Information Session April 30 at 7 p.m. at Venture 13 (739 D'Arcy St.), with details for a second such session to be announced. As well, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario is offering free on-line workshops for candidates – visit amo.on.ca or the Resources page on CobourgVotes.ca

For more information, contact the clerk's office at 905-372-4301 ext. 9520 or CobourgVotes@cobourg.ca