Markham residents planning to run in this fall’s municipal election have until Friday, Aug. 21 at 2 p.m. Eastern time to register, with council candidates required to gather voter endorsements before filing.
Registration remains open as of July 16, according to a City of Markham news release. Voting in the 2026 municipal election will take place from Oct. 16 to 26.
Candidates can complete their registration through Elections Markham’s online platform or make an appointment to submit the required documents in person. Both options require candidates to provide identification demonstrating their eligibility and pay a refundable registration fee.
Endorsements needed for council candidates
Before registering, anyone running for Markham City Council must collect at least 25 original, handwritten endorsement signatures from eligible Markham voters. The signatures must be collected using the form provided by Elections Markham.
That requirement comes before registration, rather than after it. Prospective council candidates will need to have their endorsements ready when they file, whether they choose the online platform or an in-person appointment.
Step-by-step registration instructions are available at ElectionsMarkham.ca/CandidateRegistration. The city also directs residents to ElectionsMarkham.ca for election information.
The election covers local representation on city council and school boards. Council members help shape municipal services and programs, while school board trustees represent their communities on public education matters.
The city describes trustees’ work as supporting student achievement, well-being and equity. It notes that both municipal governments and school boards provide services used by residents and businesses.
Separate deadline for political advertisers
Third-party political advertisers have a later registration deadline: Oct. 23 at 5 p.m. Eastern time. Information about that registration process is available at ElectionsMarkham.ca/PoliticalAdvertising.
Elections Markham administers city council and local school board elections, as well as by-elections and referendums. It operates as an independent, non-partisan division of the City of Markham.
