Nominations for the 2026 Municipal Election will be accepted for Lord Mayor, Councillors (8), and School Trustees commencing Friday, May 1, 2026 until Thursday, August 20, 2026 during regular business hours (Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) and on Nomination Day, Friday, August 21, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Town Hall (1593 Four Mile Creek Road). 

This election term will commence on November 15, 2026.

Nominations must be filed in person as original signatures are required. 

 

To file a nomination, you must provide:

• Nomination Paper (Form 1)

• Endorsement of Nomination (Form 2) - At least 25 declaration endorsements by eligible electors (for Lord Mayor and Town Councillors only)

• Current acceptable identification

• Nomination filing fee (paid by cash or debit card, certified cheque or money order made payable to 'Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake').

• $200.00 for Lord Mayor 

• $100.00 for Town Council

• *School Board Trustee must be filed with the lead municipality - City of St. Catharines

You will be required to complete a Declaration of Qualification. 

Any documents that are not complete will not be accepted. 

 

Where to file your nomination

• All nominations are to be filed at the Office of the Clerk at the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake Town Hall, 1593 Four Mile Creek Rd.

• Nominations cannot be filed electronically or by fax.

• When visiting Town Hall to file nominations, we ask all prospective candidates to please make an appointment with the Clerk's Department by calling: 905-468-3266 ext. 315 or by emailing: elections@notl.com. 

 

Withdrawing Your Nomination

If you decide you no longer wish to run in the 2026 Municipal Election, you must:

• File the Withdrawal of Nomination form in person (Town Clerk's Office)

• Provide identification

• File a financial statement by the deadline date

The last day to file a withdrawal is Friday, August 21, 2026, before 2 p.m.

 

Changing Office 

You can change the office you're running for even after you have filed your papers. To do so, you must:

• File the Withdrawal of Nomination for the old office

• At the same time, file a Nomination Paper for the new office

• For Lord Mayor or Town Council candidates you are not required to submit additional declaration of endorsements - the ones you submitted for the first office is transferred to the second office.

 

Nomination Filing Fee

If the nomination filing fee is the same for the new office, no extra payment is required. If the nomination filing fee is different for the new office, the difference must be paid, if applicable. Note: the filing fee is not refunded until you file the financial statement by the deadline date. 

 

Campaign finances

• Candidates are responsible for keeping records of their financial activities related to their campaign.

• The campaign period begins on the day the Clerk receives your nomination. You may accept contributions or incur campaign expenses during your campaign period only. The campaign period for the 2026 municipal and school board election will end on December 31, 2026. This is subject to a few exceptions, such as withdrawing a campaign or no additional financial activity is expected between voting day and before December 31, 2026.

• Candidates must open a bank account specifically for a campaign if any type of monetary contributions are received or expenses incurred. All contributions must be deposited into the campaign bank account and all expenses must be paid for from the campaign account.

• There is a $1,200 limit that applies to contributions from other individuals. The maximum total amount that a contributor can give to candidates in the same jurisdiction (for example, running for the same council or the same school board) is $5,000. 

• A contribution receipt must be issued for every contribution received. Contributions over $25 must be made by cheque, money order or a method of payment that clearly shows where the funds came from. A candidate is required to inform every contributor of the contribution limits and that the contributor's name and full address will be posted if the contribution amount is $25 or greater (as per the Financial Statement - Form 4).

 

Financial statement

You will be required to file a financial statement for each campaign.

• The withdrawn campaign will show all financial activity from the day the nomination paper is filed until the day the withdrawal is filed.

• The current campaign will show all financial activity from the day the nomination paper is filed until the end of the campaign period. 

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Form 4 - Financial Statements

Certified Candidates for the 2026 Municipal and School Board Election are required to file their initial financial statement and auditor's reports (Form 4 Financial Statement) on or before Tuesday, March 30, 2027. Financial Statements are viewable by clicking the candidate's name. In accordance with the Municipal Elections Act, this document must be available to the public on a website.