Become a
Candidate
Where do you start?
There are a few things you need to know before becoming a candidate.
The process to start a municipal campaign is simple. All you need to do is go through a few quick steps before beginning a campaign and speaking up for what you believe in.
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Find a clerk’s office
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File nomination papers
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Pay your filing fee
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Begin your campaign
Why not you
Too many people assume they don’t have the resume required to lead locally. Serving your community isn’t about what you’ve done, it’s about who you are.
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Canadian Citizen
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18+ years of age
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Living, owning, or renting in the municipality you wish to run in.
Who Isn’t Eligible?
While almost all Canadians are eligible to run for local leadership, there are a few rare instances that can disqualify a candidate from campaigning.
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A staff member of the municipality, UNLESS he or she takes an unpaid leave of absence during the campaign period and resigns once elected to office
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Any person not eligible to vote in that municipality
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A judge of any court
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A MP, MPP, or Senator
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An inmate serving a sentence in a penal or correctional institution
For more information on eligibility, visit the Government of Ontario’s Eligibility Guide
How do you file your nomination papers?
To run, you must file your nomination papers. May 1, 2026 is the first day to file and August 21, 2026 is the final day to file.
Other important parts of the nomination process that must be completed include:
- Your nomination must be endorsed by 25 eligible electors if your municipality has more than 4,000 electors
- You must pay a nomination fee of $100 for councillors and $200 for heads of council (mayors and reeves)
- You cannot begin campaigning until the municipal clerk accepts your paperwork as complete
For more information about what you need to know about running in Ontario municipal elections see AMO’s Lead Where You Live resource.
Ready to Run? Find your clerk’s office.
Running for local leadership starts at your local clerk’s office. Find yours below.