School Trustee Elections

Voter Eligibility

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 Hanover School Division catchment for at least six months prior to election day.

Voters List Registration

The Hanover School Division Voters List is now CLOSED for changes or revisions. Eligible voters who are not on the list can be added at the polls. You will need to take an oath and present official identification that proves your identity and current residential address.

Voting

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

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 TO VOTE AT ALL LOCATIONS

Acceptable ID includes: One piece of government-issued photo ID with name and address (e.g. Manitoba Driver’s License) OR two pieces of authorized documents that establish your identity and current address.

Locations on Election Day

Hanover School Division 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

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 Hanover School Division Conference Centre for all Hanover School Division wards (signage will be posted).

Hanover School Division Conference Centre (Wards 1, 2, 3, 4)
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.

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.

Voting 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. You will need to submit an application along with a legible copy of your government-issued photo ID.

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. (To ensure mail delivery time, please apply as early as possible. Packages for late applications must be picked up in person)

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. All voters should bring identification when requesting a sealed envelope ballot in person.

Ballot Return Deadline: All completed ballots must be received at the Hanover School Division Election Office before 8:00 p.m. on Election Day (October 28, 2026). Sealed Envelope Ballots cannot be dropped off at regular polling locations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Am I on the voters list?

Hanover School Division utilizes information provided by Elections Manitoba in preparing the Voters List. The voters list closed for revisions on September 22. Eligible voters who are not on the list can still vote at the polls, but may require additional ID/forms and an oath prior to being issued a ballot.

I am moving from HSD Ward 1 to HSD Ward 3 this summer. What should I do?

The 6-month residency requirement applies to the Hanover School Division as a whole, not to a specific ward. Because there is no minimum time requirement for a specific ward, you will vote in the ward you reside in on Election Day. To make things smoother on election day, fill out the voter information form to update your address on the list before September 22, 2026.

If I moved into Hanover School Division from another division, can I vote?

A voter who has moved into Hanover School Division from another school division within the past six months (after April 28, 2026) is not eligible to vote for the Office of School Trustee.
If you moved into Hanover School Division prior to April 28 and meet the other requirements, you are eligible to vote.

Can I have my name removed or hidden from the voters list?

You cannot have your name omitted from the master list entirely if you are an eligible voter, but you can have your personal details obscured for privacy or safety reasons (until September 22, 2026). By applying to the SEO, you will be issued a Personal Security Certificate. This gives you an identification number to protect your privacy, meaning your name and address will not appear on the list at the polling stations. Note: Voters with a security certificate must vote via Sealed Envelope Ballot.

What if I own property in the Hanover School Division but live elsewhere?

You cannot vote in the school board election. Under Manitoba law, while non-resident property owners are eligible to vote in municipal council elections, school trustee elections strictly require actual residency. You are only eligible to vote for a school trustee in the school division where you physically live.

What if I currently have no fixed address?

Under the Act, if you do not have a fixed residential address, your place of residence is deemed to be the shelter, hostel, or other similar institution within the division that most frequently provides you with lodging, food, or social services.

Can I still vote if my name is not on the voters list?

Yes. If you meet all eligibility requirements but find you are not on the list when you arrive at a voting place, you can be added on the spot. You will need to take an oath and present official identification that proves your identity and current residential address. Adding your name to the list ahead of time makes the experience at the polls smoother, as it skips the extra paperwork and line delays required for registration on Election Day.

What if I can’t vote on Election Day?

Advance Voting: Vote in person before Election Day at the HSD Advance Poll. Check out the “Voting” tab for location and date.
Sealed Envelope Ballot: If you are unable to vote in person, you can apply to vote by sealed ballot prior to elections.  To request a Sealed Envelope Ballot, contact the SEO by email, mail, or in person. More details on the “Voting” tab. All completed ballots must be received before polls close on Election Day.

Candidate Contact Directory

The following contact information has been provided voluntarily by nominated candidates for the October 2026 Hanover School Division School Board Election. Voters are encouraged to reach out directly to candidates with questions regarding their platforms.

Ward 1 West – Bothwell, Crystal Springs, Kleefeld, Niverville

Ward 2 North – Blumenort, Landmark, Mitchell

Ward 3 Steinbach

Ward 4 South – Grunthal

Candidate Disclosures

Candidates’ nomination papers are required to disclose any offences that they have pleaded guilty to, or been found guilty of, under the Criminal Code (Canada), the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (Canada), the Income Tax Act (Canada), or The Income Tax Act of Manitoba. These disclosures must be published on the local authority’s website by the Senior Election Official.

Candidates are not required to disclose an offence under the Youth Criminal Justice Act (Canada), the Young Offenders Act (Canada), or an offence for which they were granted a pardon under section 748 of the Criminal Code (Canada).

Accordingly, please be advised of the following candidate disclosures for the October 2026 election in the Hanover School Division for the Nominated position of School Trustee:

Ward 1 West

Ward 2 North

Ward 3 Steinbach

Ward 4 South

Information for Candidates

School trustees play a vital role in shaping public education in our community. If you are considering running for office in the upcoming election on October 28, 2026, please utilize the essential resources and review the registration deadlines below.

HSD Candidate Information Package

Prospective candidates are highly encouraged to review these official guides prepared by the Manitoba School Boards Association (MSBA):

• Learn more about the 2026 Manitoba School Trustee Elections and the role of a school trustee: https://www.elect2026.ca
• The Core Handbook: A Guide to School Boards and Trusteeship (PDF) – Essential reading on the governance structure, legal roles, and ethical obligations of a Manitoba school trustee.
• MSBA Information Session: Watch the recorded Manitoba School Trustee Election Information Session 2026.Review answers to frequently asked questions from the sessions.

Campaigning and Finance Rules

• Contributions: Only residents of Manitoba may contribute. Individual contributions are capped at $1,500. Anonymous donations must be turned over to the SEO immediately.
• Self-Funding: A candidate may contribute a maximum of $7,500 to their own campaign.
• Expenses: Candidates cannot run a deficit; expenses must not exceed total contributions.
• Finance Statements: All registered candidates (including those who are unsuccessful or acclaimed) must file an Election Finance Statement with the secretary-treasurer within 30 days after the campaign period ends.
• Surplus Funds: Any surplus must be turned over to the school division to be held in trust for the candidate’s next election campaign.

Candidate Qualifications & Eligibility

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

1. Citizenship & Age: Must be a Canadian citizen and at least 18 years of age.
2. Residency: Must be an actual resident of the school division and have resided there for at least six months prior to Election Day. Non-resident property owners are not eligible to run.
3. Ward Rules: You do not need to live in the specific ward you wish to represent, provided you reside somewhere within the school division boundaries. However, your nomination signatures must come from residents of that specific ward.
4. Voter Status: Must be a qualified voter of the division and not subject to disqualification under The Public Schools Act or The Municipal Councils and School Boards Elections Act.

Disqualifications & Employment Rules

• Elected Officials: Members of the Legislative Assembly, Senate, or House of Commons are disqualified. Candidates cannot hold or run for more than one local elected office simultaneously.
• Students: Regular pupils attending a school within the Hanover School Division are ineligible.
• School Division Employees: Employees or teachers of HSD may run, but must take an official leave of absence from their job in order to serve if elected.
• Spouses of Employees: Spouses of division staff are eligible to run, but the trustee must recuse themselves from board votes involving their spouse’s salary, benefits, or contract negotiations.

Wards

Hanover School Division has nine trustees:

Ward 1 West – 2 Trustees

Bothwell
Crystal Springs
Kleefeld
Niverville

Ward 2 North – 2 Trustees

Blumenort
Landmark
Mitchell

Ward 3 Steinbach – 4 Trustees

Steinbach

Ward 4 South – 1 Trustee

Grunthal

View Ward Map