Township of Blandford-Blenheim Council approved its new 2026 Municipal Election Communications Plan during its regular meeting on Wednesday, December 3, 2025.
The purpose of the plan is to help inform voters about the Township’s transition to internet and telephone voting for the 2026 municipal election, and to ensure residents know how to vote, when to vote and what kind of support will be available for them.
“This plan outlines a clear, phased approach to all public election messaging leading up to voting day on October 26 2026. With internet and telephone voting approved, and Intelivote Systems Inc. and DataFix selected as our providers, coordinated communications are essential to ensure that electors understand how to participate confidently and securely,” said Kevin Brandt, the Township’s Deputy Clerk/Communications Coordinator. “The plan explains how we will inform residents about the voting methods, how the process works and what supports are available. Messaging will be neutral, factual and accessible, helping electors understand how and when to vote, what to expect in their voter information letter and where they can get assistance.”
With the new voting system, electors will be able to vote from any location during the voting period by using a computer, tablet, smartphone or home phone. Voter help centres will also be available to provide in-person assistance for electors who need help using either the internet or telephone voting platforms.
Starting in January, Township staff will utilize a variety of channels to inform residents about the process including its own website, Facebook, media releases, printed notices or posters in municipal facilities, and through direct mail such as tax bill inserts.
In March, the Township will start putting out information on how the process will work, as well as the accessibility benefits of the method. In May, messaging will go out to encourage residents to make sure they are on the voters list, and come July, information in regards to support and assistance options will be delivered.
In August, residents will be sent voting period details and key dates to keep track of. The following month, voters will receive information about what they will need to vote, as well as information about how they will receive the security PIN needed for the process. In October, the Township will send out a refresher on voting instructions, and by the middle of the month, there will be daily updates online to remind people about voting day and how to get assistance.
As this is the first time the municipality is using the internet and telephone voting process, the Township will be closely monitoring voter awareness and public inquiries, use of voter assistance services, website and social media engagement, and voter turnout compared to previous elections.
During the meeting, Councillor Nancy Demarest complimented Brandt on the communications plan.
“This was a fantastic report, it’s great quality and very comprehensive,” she said. “I love seeing communication plans. It’s such a rare thing in municipal politics, and it’s nice to have it all laid out, so thank you and great job.”
The vote to receive the report as information was then approved unanimously.
To read the full communications report, visit: https://pub-blandfordblenheim.escribemeetings.com/FileStream.ashx?DocumentId=730
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
