Ontario municipal election deadline Friday: candidates have 48 hours to register
All 444 Ontario municipalities hold elections Oct. 26. Nomination papers must be filed by 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21, with a $100–$200 filing fee.
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Anyone wanting to run for mayor, councillor, or school board trustee in Ontario has until Friday, Aug. 21 at 2 p.m. to file nomination papers. All 444 municipalities across the province will hold elections on Oct. 26.
Prospective candidates must be 18 years old, hold Canadian citizenship, and live in the municipality they wish to represent. For councillor positions, candidates do not need to live in the specific ward they're running for.
Certain positions disqualify candidates: judges, MPs, MPPs, senators, municipal employees who haven't resigned or taken unpaid leave, inmates in correctional institutions, or those ineligible to vote. School board employees must also take unpaid leave or resign to run.
For municipalities with more than 4,000 electors, council candidates need 25 endorsement signatures from eligible local voters. School board trustee candidates and those in smaller municipalities do not need signatures. Filing fees are $200 for head-of-council positions and $100 for all others — fees are refunded if candidates submit campaign financial statements before the deadline.
Municipal clerks have until Aug. 24 at 4 p.m. to certify or reject nominations. If only one certified candidate emerges for an open position, they will be appointed. If no candidates file for a position, the municipal clerk will issue a special callout for nominations.
Ottawa city council members and school board trustees seeking re-election have already registered ahead of the Friday deadline.
The facts
When is the Ontario municipal election?
All 444 Ontario municipalities will hold elections on October 26, 2026.
When do candidates need to file nomination papers?
Nomination papers must be filed by 2 p.m. on Friday, August 21, 2026.
How much does it cost to file nomination papers in Ontario?
Filing fees are $200 for head-of-council positions and $100 for all other positions. Fees are refunded if candidates submit campaign financial statements before the deadline.
How many endorsement signatures do council candidates need?
In municipalities with more than 4,000 electors, council candidates need 25 endorsement signatures from eligible local voters. Candidates in smaller municipalities do not need signatures.
