• It’s Election Day in Ontario, with polls in Stouffville open until 8 p.m. at nine locations.
  • Internet voting is also available until 8 p.m., using the instructions mailed to all registered voters.
  • With Mayor Iain Lovatt acclaimed to a third term, all six ward council seats and three school board trustee seats are on the ballot.
  • Ward 2 is the only council race without an incumbent, with five candidates vying to replace Councillor Maurice Smith.
  • Ward 4 has drawn the largest field, with seven candidates, including incumbent Councillor Rick Upton.
  • In Ward 6, Greg Smith withdrew from the race, but his name remains on the ballot.
  • By the close of advance polls Saturday, 6,842 ballots had been cast, leaving about 5,200 more needed to surpass 2022’s total of 12,023.
  • The Town’s election website is the only place to find real-time results, with unofficial results posted after polls close at 8 p.m.

 

Stouffville’s 2026 municipal election has entered its final stretch, and polls remain open until 8 p.m. With Mayor Iain Lovatt acclaimed to a third consecutive term, residents are electing councillors in all six wards and trustees for three of the four school boards serving the community.

“With under eight hours before polls close, I am excited to see how Stouffville shows up this election and selects the candidates that will make up next term’s council,” Lovatt said in comments to Bullet Point News, adding that he hopes to see higher turnout than in 2022.

“I’m also grateful for all the candidates who chose to run and wish them all the very best, regardless of the outcome this evening,” he added.

Early voting has set a strong pace. By the time in-person advance polls closed Saturday, 6,842 ballots had been cast, a turnout of 15.69 percent and nearly double 2022’s advance turnout.

Races to Watch

Ward 2 is the only council race without an incumbent, after Councillor Maurice Smith opted not to seek re-election. Five candidates are vying for the seat: Terri Drover, Adam Hassan, George Karpouzis, Rocco Priore, and Jared Simpson. Karpouzis returns after losing to Smith by just 133 votes in 2022.

Ward 2 voters have also been the most engaged so far, with the Ballantrae Sports Dome a major issue throughout the campaign. More than a quarter of the ward’s eligible voters, 25.58 percent, cast a ballot before advance polls closed, the highest rate of any ward.

Ward 4 has drawn the largest field, with seven candidates: Erik Gordon, Rob Hargrave, James Liaros, David Parmer, Courtney Taylor, incumbent Councillor Rick Upton, and Brad Valentini. Hargrave served as Ward 6 Councillor from 2003 to 2018, while Liaros and Valentini have previously run in Ward 4.

The race has drawn added attention since a third-party flyer highlighting Integrity Commissioner findings of workplace and sexual harassment by Upton reached Ward 4 mailboxes in the campaign’s final days.

At 14.76 percent, Ward 4’s turnout sat slightly below the Town-wide rate when advance polls closed, and the ward had the most eligible voters yet to cast a ballot at the time.

In Ward 6, Councillor Sue Sherban faces returning challenger Angel Freedman after newcomer Greg Smith withdrew from the race on Oct. 4, citing health concerns involving family members and the regular travel to Halifax they require.

With the nomination period already closed, Smith’s name will still appear on the ballot, and he has asked voters to “please keep this in mind when casting their vote.” Ward 6 turnout stood at 13.09 percent when advance polls closed, second-lowest among the six wards.

Voters in Wards 3 and 5 head to the polls less than two weeks after Council rezoned part of 12662 Tenth Line to allow the Darul Khair Centre’s proposed mosque. Citing residents’ concerns about traffic and the project’s outstanding planning studies, Ward 5 Councillor Richard Bartley and Ward 3 Councillor Keith Acton voted against the rezoning.

Bartley now faces returning challenger Laura Cusack and newcomer Shawn McGovern, while Acton faces Roger Gingerich and Bryan Stott.

How & Where to Vote

Internet voting remains open until 8 p.m., using the instructions mailed to all registered voters. Under the Town’s Vote Anywhere model, residents can cast a ballot at any of the following locations until 8 p.m., regardless of where they live in Stouffville:

  • Ballantrae Community Centre, 5592 Aurora Rd.
  • Municipal Offices, 111 Sandiford Dr.
  • 55+ Club, 6240 Main St.
  • Whitchurch-Stouffville Museum, 14732 Woodbine Ave.
  • Clippers Sports Complex, 120 Weldon Rd.
  • Stouffville Arena, 12483 Ninth Line
  • Leisure Centre, 2 Park Dr.
  • Eastridge Church, 12485 Tenth Line
  • Barbara Reid Public School, 130 Hoover Park Dr.

Those voting in person must bring identification showing their name and qualifying home address. Most documents issued by the Government of Canada, the Province, or an Ontario municipality are accepted, as are items such as utility bills.

Who’s on the Ballot

Voters will see their ward’s council race and, depending on which school board they support, a trustee race. Profiles and interviews with many of the candidates are available on the Bullet Point News and 102.9 Whistle FM Stouffville Votes 2026 website.

  • Mayor: Iain Lovatt (acclaimed)
  • Ward 1: Michael Cleverdon, Hugo Kroon (incumbent)
  • Ward 2: Terri Drover, Adam Hassan, George Karpouzis, Rocco Priore, Jared Simpson
  • Ward 3: Keith Acton (incumbent), Roger Gingerich, Bryan Stott
  • Ward 4: Erik Gordon, Rob Hargrave, James Liaros, David Parmer, Courtney Taylor, Rick Upton (incumbent), Brad Valentini
  • Ward 5: Richard Bartley (incumbent), Laura Cusack, Shawn McGovern
  • Ward 6: Angel Freedman, Sue Sherban (incumbent), Greg Smith (withdrew from race)
  • York Region District School Board: Bill Radia, Emma Sears, Bruce Yu
  • York Catholic District School Board: Brandan James Cescolini, Eduardo Juarez
  • Conseil Scolaire Catholique MonAvenir: Ibrahim M. Elias, Christella Basosila Lome
  • Conseil Scolaire Viamonde: Hanane Jaouich-Diakité (acclaimed)

Following the Results

As they are tabulated, real-time results will be provided only through the Town’s election website. Staff have created a dashboard, which will display unofficial results from each race starting after polls close at 8 p.m.

Official results will be posted once they have been confirmed and certified by the Clerk.