RH Elections 2026

Every four years, Richmond Hill residents have the opportunity to shape the future of their community in the most direct way possible — by choosing the people who will lead it. The 2026 municipal and school board trustee elections are your chance to do exactly that, and this page is your complete guide to everything you need to know before you vote.

Local elections may not have the spectacle of a federal campaign, but their impact is felt every single day — in the condition of the roads you drive, the parks your children play in, the zoning decisions that shape your neighbourhood, and the school boards that guide your child’s education. This is governance at its most immediate, and your vote here carries real weight.

At the head of Richmond Hill’s local government sits the Mayor — a directly elected leader who serves as the city’s chief spokesperson, chairs council meetings, and plays a central role in setting the municipality’s strategic direction. The Mayor’s influence shapes everything from budget priorities to how the city engages with provincial and federal partners.

Alongside the Mayor, City Councillors represent the individual wards that make up Richmond Hill, bringing the concerns of their specific communities directly into the council chamber. They debate and vote on bylaws, budgets, development applications, and a wide range of policies that affect daily life. Knowing your ward — and knowing who is asking for your trust to represent it — is one of the most important things you can do as a local resident.

School Board Trustees, meanwhile, are the elected voices of parents and community members within each school board. They oversee policy, budgets, and the overall direction of publicly funded education in your area, whether that’s the York Region District School Board, the York Catholic District School Board, Conseil scolaire Viamonde, or Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir. Their decisions touch classrooms directly.

If you’re a Canadian citizen, at least 18 years old by October 26, 2026, and you live in Richmond Hill — or you own or rent property here, or your spouse does — congratulations, you’re in. You don’t need to do anything fancy to qualify; you just need to be on the Voters’ List. The good news is that voting day is Monday, October 26, 2026, and voters will have the option of voting online or in person, so there’s really no excuse. The only people who can’t vote are those serving a prison sentence, corporations (yes, that had to be clarified), and anyone convicted of a corrupt practice — so as long as none of those apply to you, you’re good to go. Learn more here.