Friday, May 1, 2026 – Nomination and Campaign Period Commences

Nomination Period:

• Candidates may file nomination papers with the Clerk from Friday, May 1, 2026 to Friday, August 21, 2026. 
• From May 1st to August 20th nomination papers can be filed Monday to Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., 
  excluding statutory holidays. On Nomination Day papers can only be filed until 2:00 PM. 

Friday, August 21, 2026 - Nomination Day 

• Last day for filing nominations up until 2:00 PM.
• Final day for withdrawal of candidacy.

Appointments:

• Candidates are strongly encouraged to schedule an appointment with the Clerk’s Office.
  Please call 905-468-3266 ext. 315.

Campaign Period:

• The campaign period begins on Friday, May 1, 2026, or on the date a candidate files their nomination paper, whichever is later, and ends on Thursday, December 31, 2026.

Monday, August 24, 2026 - Certification of Nominations

• All nominations to be examined and certified by 4:00 p.m. Acclamations declared, if any.

Thursday, August 27, 2026 - Election Signs

• Candidates may begin erecting their election signs.

Monday, October 26, 2026 - Election Day

• Voting is held between the hours of 10:00 AM and 8:00 PM.

Tuesday, October 27, 2026 - Official Election Results

• Official Election Results.

Monday, November 2, 2026 - Removal of Election Signs

• Election signs must be removed.

Tuesday, November 24, 2026 - Inauguration Day

• The elected members must take the oath of office prior to taking their seat.

Tuesday, March 30, 2027 - Deadline for Filing Financial Statements

• This is the final date by which all nominated candidates must file their financial statement. The statement covers the period from the day the candidate filed their nomination paper until January 25, 2027.

Electors can "Vote Anywhere". Qualified electors are welcome to vote at any polling location in Niagara-on-the-Lake. This allows you to determine the Voting Location that best suits your mobility needs.

Advanced Voting

• Monday, October 5, 2026 - 10:00 a.m. to October 25 - 8:00 p.m. Internet Voting
• Wednesday, October 7, 2026 - 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Town Hall - Council Chambers - 1593 Four Mile Creek Road.
• Saturday, October 17, 2026 - 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Niagara-on-the-Lake - Community Centre - Simpson Room - 14 Anderson Lane.

Voting Day - Monday, October 26, 2026              10:00 am to 8:00 pm

• Holiday Inn Express - 524 York Road.
• Laura Secord Homestead - 29 Queenston Street.
• Crossroads Public School - 1350 Niagara Stone Road.
• St. Davids Public School - 1344 York Road.
• Niagara-on-the-Lake Community Centre - 14 Anderson Lane.
   

In Person on Election Day & Advance Polls

Qualified electors are welcome to vote at any of the following Niagara-on-the-Lake polling locations: 

• Holiday Inn Express - 524 York Road.
• Laura Secord Homestead - 29 Queenston Street.
• Crossroads Public School - 1350 Niagara Stone Road.
• St. Davids Public School - 1344 York Road.
• Niagara-on-the-Lake Community Centre - 14 Anderson Lane.

Internet Voting 

Voting information will be mailed directly to your address along with your Voter Information Card. Please ensure you are registered to vote to receive your voting details.

 Anyone can vote in a municipal election who, on the day of the election, is: 

• 18 years of age or older; 
• a Canadian citizen;
• Either a resident of the municipality or a property owner or tenant or the spouse of an owner or tenant in the municipality during a specified time just before the election; and not otherwise prohibited from voting.
• You must be on the Municipal Voter's List to vote in the Municipal Election

Am I on the Voter's list?

Not sure if you’re on the voters’ list? Visit the Register to Vote website to confirm, update, or add your information to the voter's list ahead of the 2026 municipal council and school board election.

What do I need to vote?

Before visiting a polling location, ensure you have your Voter Card and/or a government-issued piece of ID with your municipal address.

I, Grant Bivol, Town Clerk/Returning Officer, advise that during the period commencing on May 1, 2026, and completed on Nomination Day, August 21, 2026, the following persons have filed all necessary nomination papers, endorsements, declarations, and fees and are hereby registered candidates. Candidates will be certified by August 24, 2026

Candidates for Lord Mayor

Candidates for Town Councillor 

Candidates for DSBN School Board Trustee

Candidates for NCDSB School Board Trustee

Candidates for Conseil Scolaire Catholique MonAvenir Trustee

Registered Third-Party Advertisers 

Who can be a candidate?

To run for a position on Council, you must be eligible to vote in that municipality. On the day you file your nomination, you must be:

• a resident of the municipality or a non-resident owner or tenant of land in the municipality or the spouse of such non-resident owner or tenant;
• a Canadian citizen;
• at least 18 years old;
• not legally prohibited from voting; and
• not disqualified by any legislation from holding municipal office.
• To run as a candidate for a school board trustee position you must ensure you meet any other qualifications to vote for the school board and be a resident in the area of jurisdiction of the board you are seeking office to.

Who cannot be a candidate?

• any person who is not eligible to vote in the municipality
• An employee of the municipality unless they take an unpaid leave of absence beginning the day they are nominated and resign if elected to the office
• A judge of any court
• A member of the Provincial Legislature, the Federal House of Commons or Senate who has not resigned from their office by the close of nominations. Proof of resignation must be provided by the close of nominations or the Clerk will not certify the nomination
• A candidate who failed to file the necessary financial statement in the last municipal election or by-election
• an inmate serving a sentence in a penal or correctional institution

2026 Candidates’ Guide - Ontario municipal council and school board elections
2026 Candidates' Guide - Niagara-on-the-Lake

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. 

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.  

Lord Mayor 

Town Councillor

Third Party Advertisers

Third Party Advertisers may register with the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake for the 2026 Municipal Election. Friday, May 1, 2026 is the first day an individual, union or corporation can file notice of registration as a third party advertiser. Third Party Advertisers have until Friday, Oct. 23, 2026 to register. 

Requirements

Third Party Advertising is advertisements or other materials in support or opposition of a candidate in a municipal election. It is separate and independent from any candidates campaign. (A fuller description can be found in the 2026 Third Party Advertisers Guide.)

• Third party advertisers must file a notice of registration with the Town Clerk in person or by agent. Registration forms (Form 7) are available online in the Town Clerk’s Office. The registration form must be filled in completely. 
• Third Party advertisers must sign a declaration of qualification.

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

2026 Third Party Advertisers’ Guide
2026 Third Party Advertiser Registration Package - Niagara-on-the-Lake

• Use of Corporate Resources Policy
• Nomination Procedure
• Electronic Voting Policy
• Voting and Vote Tabulator Procedures and the Polls
• Voting at Institutions and Retirement Homes 
• Responding to Emergency Situations
• Recount Procedures
• Powers of the Clerk
• 2026 Municipal Election Accessibility Plan

Forms

• Form 1 - Nomination Form
• Form 2 - Endorsement of Nomination
  You can download an endorsement form directly from the Ontario website at the link above. Please note that if you attempt to open the download link by clicking on it, you will get an error message. Please navigate to your downloads folder to view the form.
• Form 3 - Appointment for Voting Proxy
• Form 4 - Financial Statement Auditor's Report Candidate
• Form 5 - Financial Statement Subsequent Expenses
• Form 6 - Notice of Extension of Campaign Period
• Form 7 - Notice of Registration - 3rd Party 
• Form 8 - Financial Statement-Auditor's Report Third Party 

Resources

• Accessible Election Policies and Procedures
• AMCTO Candidates Guide to Accessible Elections
• Elections Ontario FAQs - May 2026
• Election Sign By-law
• Niagara Region Sign By-law
• Acceptable Documents for Voter Identification
• Use of Corporate Resources for Election Purposes Policy
• 2026 Voters' Guide - Ontario Municipal Council and School Board Elections
• 2026 Candidates' Guide - Ontario Municipal Council and School Board Elections
• 2026 Third-Party Advertisers' Guide - Ontario Municipal Council and School Board Elections