Elections

• A Canadian citizen;
• At least 18 years old;
• Residing in the Township, an owner or tenant of land in the Township, or the spouse of such owner or tenant; and
• Not otherwise prohibited from voting.

Between April and August of 2026, municipal enumerations will be conducted by MPAC in order to prepare a preliminary list of electors for the Township. If you have moved since the last election in 2022, or have not confirmed your citizenship through MPAC, you may not be on the list. The Township encourages all voters to participate in MPAC’s municipal enumeration.

Are you on the Voter's List?

Township Council approved the use of Internet and Telephone voting methods for the 2022 Municipal Election. This voting method was previously used in the 2018 Municipal Election. These voting methods replaced the Vote-By-Mail method used during the 2014 Municipal Election. Internet and telephone voting is fast and convenient, and will give voters the opportunity to cast their ballots from anywhere using a computer, smart phone, tablet, or touchtone telephone 24-hours a day throughout the eleven-day voting period.

Whether an elector is away on personal travel, suffering from an illness, working days or nights, has a disability or difficulty travelling, they may cast their ballot from anywhere with an internet connection or a telephone. Additionally, voters will no longer need to get in their cars and travel to polling locations, reducing greenhouse gas emissions; and no ballots will need to be printed which reduces the amount of paper needed for the election.

Telephone voting is comparable to telephone banking and is like Internet voting. However, voters make their selections by touchtone phone. Telephone voting is not compatible with rotary dial phones. 

During the voting period, Township staff will be available to help voters by phone or at the Voter Help Centre to check to see if they are on the voters' list, add or amend their information on the list, help them to use a computer to vote, or to answer any questions about the election or voting process.

View Common Voter Questions and Answers for e-Voting.

The Nomination Period for the next Municipal Election opened on May 2, 2022 and closed on Nomination Day, August 19th, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. A Candidate for municipal office must, upon nomination, be a qualified municipal elector in the Township and fulfill the following requirements:

• Live in the Township of South-West Oxford, be an owner or tenant of land in the Township, or the spouse of an owner or tenant;
• Be a Canadian citizen;
• Be at least 18 years old on Voting Day;
• Not legally prohibited from voting or disqualified by any other legislation.

For the next Municipal Election, new requirements under the Municipal Elections Act require that anyone wishing to run for office as a member of Council submit signatures of at least 25 eligible voters supporting their nomination to run for office.

The campaign period begins when Candidates file their Nomination Papers and officially ends on the date specified (typically a date in January of the following year). Candidates may not accept donations, spend money, or advertise until they file their nomination.

If you are interested in running for office, you are encouraged to view the Candidates' Guide prepared by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Additional information including important dates can be found on AMCTO's Elections Calendar.

More information for Candidates and voters will continue to become available. Questions may be directed to Julie Middleton, Clerk at 519-485-0477 ext. 7023 or via email.

The following forms are required to be submitted with the Clerk to file your nomination. Nominations must be filed by the date specified by the Clerk during the nomination period.

Below are the forms utilized by Candidates during the 2022 Municipal Election (for reference):

• Nomination Paper -  Form 1.
• Endorsement of Nomination - Form 2.
• Freedom of Information Release.

Anyone interested in running for office is encouraged to read the following resources which will provide you with more information on running for office:

• 2022 Candidates Guide for Ontario Municipal Council and School Board Elections.
• AMCTO Candidate's Guide to Accessible Elections.
• Internet and Telephone Voting Procedures.

Candidates must also have regard to the needs of electors with disabilities. Campaign offices, election materials, and canvassing should all be reviewed in order to ensure that they are fully accessible. The Accessibility Directorate of Ontario has released several quick reference documents to assist Candidates with accessible elections considerations:

• Count Us In: Removing Barriers to Political Participation - Quick Reference Guide to Accessible Campaign Information and Communication

• Count Us In: Removing Barriers to Political Participation - Quick Reference Guide to Accessible Constituency, Riding Association, Central Party, and Campaign Offices

• Count Us In: Removing Barriers to Political Participation - Quick Reference Guide to Accessible All Candidates Meetings