Mayor or reeve
Heads council, represents the municipality and carries responsibilities defined by provincial law and local procedure.
Confirm before acting
Your municipal clerk is the local election official. Always confirm forms, fees, deadlines, sign rules, voting methods and accessibility requirements directly with the clerk.
Understanding elected municipal roles
Councillor
Represents electors, considers policy and budgets, and participates in council decisions.
School board trustee
Participates in board governance, policy and stewardship of publicly funded education.
Eligibility to run
The Province’s 2026 candidate guide explains the common eligibility rules. Eligibility may differ by office, and disqualifications can apply.
Ontario 2026 candidate eligibility guideOfficial source ↗Nomination, registration and forms
- Identify the office and municipality or school board.
- Review eligibility and nomination requirements.
- Obtain current forms from the clerk or official guide.
- Confirm the filing window, fee and endorsement requirements.
- File with the municipal clerk and retain written confirmation.
Exact local fees and filing details: Information not yet available. Confirm with the appropriate municipal clerk.
Campaign finance and compliance
Contributions & spending
Review who may contribute, contribution limits, campaign account rules, spending limits and recordkeeping duties.
Financial reporting
Track every transaction, retain records and verify filing requirements, deadlines, extensions and audit requirements.
Campaigning, signs and accessibility
Provincial law and local bylaws may both apply. Review advertising identification, third-party advertising, campaign signs, use of municipal resources, accessibility and removal deadlines.
Ontario campaigning guidanceOfficial source ↗Campaign planning and election data
Use public election results, ward boundaries and aggregated demographic information carefully. Optional professional analysis is kept separate from public directory listings.
View optional professional servicesCandidate FAQs
Where do I file my nomination?
With the designated municipal election office. Confirm the location and process with the clerk.
Can OurRiding.ca confirm my legal compliance?
No. OurRiding.ca provides general information, not legal advice. The clerk, election authority, legislation and qualified professional advice are authoritative.
How is a candidate profile verified?
Identity and submitted links are checked against official or attributable public sources. Verification does not mean endorsement.