¾«¶«Ó°Òµ

Voter Eligibility

Any person who is eligible to vote in municipal elections in ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ catchment can have their name added to the Voters List, or have any information about the Voter on the Voters List corrected.

To have your name added or updated, please visit the ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ Administration Office at 5 Chrysler Gate Monday -Thursday (10 am – 3 pm).

Need to register for the voters list?

To be Eligible to vote:

• You must be a Canadian Citizen
• You must be at least 18 years of age on election day
• You must be a resident of the ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ catchment for at least six months prior to election day.

Voting on October 28

• Confirm your voting location before you head out.
  Take note that your municipal election may be in a different location than your school board election.
• Add your name to the voter’s list. If you’ve moved since the last election or become eligible to vote, add your name to the list. Having your name appear accurately on the voter list will speed up your voting process. Identification will be required at the polls.

IDENTIFICATION WILL BE REQUIRED TO VOTE AT ALL LOCATIONS

Acceptable ID includes: One piece of government-issued photo ID (like a Manitoba Driver’s License or Canadian Passport) OR two pieces of authorized documents that establish your identity and current address.

Voters List Registration

The ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ Voters List is open for changes or revisions.

• Any person who is eligible to vote in the ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ election can have their name added to the Voters List or have any information about the voter on the Voters List corrected.
• Any person can request to have their name and address obscured from the Voters List.*

*A person whose name has been obscured will receive a Personal Security Certificate and identification number. That person may only vote by Sealed Envelope Ballot and cannot vote in person at the regular or advance voting places.

To make revisions to the Voters List, a request must be submitted to the Senior Election Official, in-person (by appointment only) or by filling out the form below.

To have your name and address obscured from the Voters List, a written request must be submitted to the Senior Election Official in-person (by appointment only), by e-mail, or by mail.

Application to Vote by Sealed Envelope

A voter who is unable to go in person to the voting place or vote in advance, may apply to “vote by sealed envelope” by mailing or emailing the Senior Election Official or by appointment in-person with the Senior Election Official at 5 Chrysler Gate, Steinbach.

If applying by mail or email, a voter may apply between July 30th and October 25th. A voter applying by mail or email will receive a sealed envelope ballot package by regular post, or by making alternative arrangements with the Senior Election Official.

A voter may apply to vote by sealed envelope in person between September 30th and October 25th. A voter applying in person may pick up a sealed envelope ballot package at the time of application.

FAQ

Who is eligible to vote?

There are two types of voters that are qualified to vote in a school division election.

Resident Voters: In order to qualify as a resident voter, a person must be:

• A Canadian citizen;
• At least 18 years of age on Election Day; and
• A resident of the local authority or Local Urban District for at least six months on Election Day.

Persons with no fixed address: If the person has no ordinary or “fixed” residence in the local authority, they are deemed to reside at the shelter, hostel or other similar institution that most frequently provides lodging, food or other social services.

While a “registered owner of land” may be eligible to vote in a municipal election, to vote in a School Trustee election, a person must be an actual resident of the ward in which they are voting.

How can I be added to the voter’s list?

Click here to have your name and/or qualified members of your household added to the Voter’s List.

I don’t live in the ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ catchment area, but I own property – can I vote?

No, for school trustee elections, you must be a resident of the school division to be eligible to vote, and you can only vote in the ward in which you reside. Non-resident property voters may only vote in municipal elections.

I am moving this summer from HSD Ward 1 to HSD Ward 3. Will I be able to vote in Ward 3 even though I have lived in the ward for less than 6 months on election day?

A qualified resident voter’s name must be placed on the voters list for the ward in which they reside. A person must be a resident of ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ Catchment for at least 6 months before Election Day to qualify as a resident voter – there is no term of residency requirement to vote in a ward. As long as a person qualifies as a registered voter in the school division, that person also qualifies to vote in the ward in which they reside on Election Day.

If you move from one ward to another within the school division, contact your SEO to ensure that your name is included on the voter’s list correctly. The SEO may update the voters list until the close of nominations on September 20, 2022.

Can I have my name, address and other information omitted or obscured from the voters’ list?

If a voter wishes to have their information obscured from the voters’ list, they may file an application with the SEO in person, by mail or by email. After receiving the application, the SEO will give the applicant a personal security certificate that includes an identification number to be used as a replacement for the person’s name and address. A person who is given a personal security certificate may only vote by sealed envelope ballot.

Candidates

If you’re considering running for school trustee in the upcoming 2026 Manitoba School Trustee Elections and weren’t able to attend one of the Manitoba School Boards Association’s information sessions this spring, you can still access the resources online.

• Watch the candidate information session recording:
• Review answers to from the sessions: School Board Elections – Manitoba School Boards Association
• Learn more about the 2026 Manitoba School Trustee Elections and the role of a school trustee:

School trustees play an important role in shaping the future of public education in Manitoba. Election Day is October 28, 2026. Consider making a difference in your community by putting your name forward.

Information for Candidates

The campaign registration period for school division trustee candidates opens June 30, 2026.

NEW! Anyone intending to run for municipal office must register with the SEO before accepting contributions, incurring expenses, raising funds, or borrowing money for their campaign.

Timeline for Candidates:

1. Candidate Registration (open June 30 to September 22, 2026)

Candidates will provide general information about themselves and the office they are seeking, as well as account information if they will be receiving campaign contributions.

Registration will take place at the HSD office (see contact page for office hours)

Candidates will receive a Registration packet with the information required for nominations.

Once registered, a candidate enters the official campaign period, and can begin to receive monetary contributions or incur expenses relating to the candidacy.

2. Nomination Period (September 16 – 22, 2026)

Filing nomination papers is the formal step to get a candidate’s name on the ballot.

Disclosure of Offences: As part of the nomination, candidates must disclose any guilty pleas or convictions for specific offences under the Criminal Code, Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, or Income Tax Act. These disclosures are on the nomination forms and will be published on the school division’s website along with the list of nominations.

Candidates will obtain nomination signatures from eligible votes within the ward in which they are running. At least 25 signatures or 1% of the eligible voters in the ward.

Nomination papers will be received Sept 16-22 at the HSD Administrative Office (hours to be posted/provided in candidate registration packages).

3. Withdrawal (on/before September 23)

A candidate may withdraw their nomination in writing to the SEO until 24 hours after the nomination period ends, provided enough candidates remain to fill the vacancies.

4. Acclamation / Notice of Election (September 24)

Acclamation: If the number of candidates is equal to or less than the number of vacancies, the SEO will declare the candidates elected by acclamation, and no election will be held for those seats.

Notice of Election: If an election is required, a notice will be posted as soon as possible, confirming candidate list and location(s) for voting.

Campaigning and Finance Rules:

NEW!

• Contributions: Only residents of Manitoba may contribute to a campaign. Individual contributions are capped at $1,500.
• Self-Funding: A candidate may contribute up to $7,500 to their own campaign.
• Expenses: Candidates cannot incur a deficit; campaign expenses must not exceed the total contributions received.
• Records: Detailed financial records must be kept, as all candidates (even those not elected) must file an Election Finance Statement.
• Finance Statement Deadline: Registered candidates must file their Election Finance Statement with the secretary-treasurer within 30 days after the campaign period ends.
• Surplus Funds: Any campaign surplus must be turned over to the school division to be held in trust for the candidate’s next election.

Qualifications

To qualify as a candidate for Board of Trustees, an individual must meet the following general criteria as of Election Day:

1. Canadian Citizenship: The individual must be a Canadian citizen.
2. Age: The individual must be at least 18 years of age.
3. Residency: The individual must be an actual resident of the school division or district and must have resided there for at least six months prior to Election Day.
4. Voter Status: The candidate must be a qualified voter of the school division.
   not subject to disqualification under The Public ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ Act, The Municipal Councils, School Boards Elections Act, or any other applicable legislation

Residency and Ward Rules

A critical distinction for school board elections is that non-resident property owners are not eligible to run for office; a candidate must be an actual resident of the division. However, if a division is divided into wards, a candidate does not have to live in the specific ward they wish to represent, provided they reside somewhere within the division as a whole. Notably, the nomination papers for a ward election must still be signed by eligible voters who do reside in that specific ward.

Disqualifications
Under The Public ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ Act and The Municipal Councils and School Boards Elections Act, certain individuals are ineligible to be nominated or serve as trustees:

1. Other Elected Officials: Members of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, the Senate, or the House of Commons of Canada are disqualified.
2. Multiple Nominations: A person cannot hold or be nominated for more than one local elected office at a time. For example, a person cannot run for both a municipal council and a school board simultaneously.
   Students: Any pupil in regular attendance at a school within the same school division is ineligible.
3. Criminal Convictions: Individuals are disqualified if they have been convicted of an offense punishable by imprisonment for five years or more, or specific Criminal Code offenses such as breach of trust, selling or purchasing office, or influencing appointments.

Employment and Conflicts of Interest

1. School Division Employees: A teacher or other employee of a school division may run for trustee, but they must take a leave of absence from their job in order to serve if elected.
2. Spouses of Employees: An individual is not disqualified if their spouse works for the school division. However, that trustee may have a conflict of interest in specific matters, such as salary negotiations or leave provisions, and must recuse themselves from those debates and votes.

Wards

¾«¶«Ó°Òµ has 9 trustees:

Ward 1 West – Bothwell, Crystal Springs, Kleefeld, and Niverville (2 trustees)
Ward 2 North – Blumenort, Landmark, and Mitchell (2 trustees)
Ward 3 – Steinbach (4 trustees)
Ward 4 South – Grunthal (1 trustee)

View Ward Map

Polls will be open on Election Day, October 28, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

VOTERS SHOULD BRING IDENTIFICATION FOR ALL POLL LOCATIONS

Locations on Election Day

¾«¶«Ó°Òµ Administrative Office
5 Chrysler Gate, Steinbach
8:00am – 8:00pm

Mobile Voting Station
For the purpose of accommodating persons who are qualified to vote, a Mobile Voting Station will be set up for those who reside at the certain facilities on Election Day. Locations and times for the 2026 Trustee Election are to be determined.

Identification

Identification may be required before being allowed to vote. A person may be required to provide an official government issued document that contains the person’s name, address and photograph*; or at least two other documents that provide proof of identity satisfactory to the election official. *One of these pieces of ID:

• a driver’s license
• any card issued by a Canadian government (federal, provincial or local) with name, current address and photo

Advance Voting – Saturday Oct. 17, 2026

¾«¶«Ó°Òµ Conference Centre
5 Chrysler Gate
Saturday, October 17, 2026
8:00 am – 8:00 pm

A secondary advance polling site may be established in October, subject to candidate nominations and contested wards. Final locations will be confirmed and published by October 2, 2026.

For the purpose of accommodating persons who are qualified to vote, but who have reason to believe that they will be absent or otherwise unable to attend their proper voting place on election day, an advance voting opportunity will be located at ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ Conference Centre for all ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ wards (signage will be posted).

Identification may be required before being allowed to vote. A person may be required to provide an official government issued document that contains the person’s name, address and photograph; or at least two other documents that provide proof of identity satisfactory to the election official.