Find everything you need to know if you are a current candidate or prospective candidate in the Candidates' Information Guide. Learn more about eligibility requirements, nomination rules, campaign responsibilities, and key timelines.
The 2026 version of the Candidates' Guide from the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing will be released at a later date and linked to this webpage.
Coming soon: Nomination Forms and Endorsement Forms and Candidate Checklist
The filing period for the 2026 Municipal Election nominations opens on May 1, 2026 at 9:00 am and closes on August 21, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.
Nominations must be filed in person at the Town Hall, 271 Sandwich St. S. Electronic submissions will not be accepted.
Appointments for nominations are preferred but not required. To schedule an appointment, Email the Clerks Office or call 519-730-2128.
Appointments will last approximately 1 hour.
To run for Council in Amherstburg, you must meet the following requirements:
The following are disqualified from being elected as a member of council, or from holding office as a member of council:
Who can run for School Board Trustee?
To run for a trustee position on a school board, you must be eligible to vote in that school board election and meet the following requirements:
Yes. The fee to file a nomination is $100 for the Office of Councillor and Deputy Mayor. The fee to file a nomination for the Office of Mayor is $200. This fee must be paid to the Clerk at the time you submit your nomination form. Your nomination fee will be refunded if you file your campaign financial statement by the deadline of March 30, 2027.
Do I need to provide identification?
Yes. In order to submit your nomination, you must provide two pieces of identification. One must show that you are a Canadian citizen and one must identify your qualifying address. All identification must be valid (not expired) and original.
Proof of Canadian Citizenship:
Proof of Qualifying Address:
The ability for candidates to withdraw their nominations ends at 2:00 pm on August 21, 2026. A candidate may withdraw their nomination by filing a written withdrawal to the Clerk's Office.
To obtain the EL19 Withdrawal of Nomination form contact us at election@amherstburg.ca or 519-730-2128.
If a Candidate has filed an earlier nomination in the same election, the first nomination is considered withdrawn when the second nomination is filed. A new "Nomination Paper" Form 1 must be submitted but the endorsement of 25 eligible voters may be transferred to the new nomination.
When can candidates start campaigning?
A candidate's campaign period begins on the day they file nomination papers with the Clerk and ends December 31, 2026, unless the candidate withdraws the nomination or the Clerk rejects the nomination.
When can candidates begin to put up lawn signs?
Per the Municipal Election Sign By-law, Candidates are eligible to place signs following Nomination Day, August 21, 2026, if they are a certified candidate or registered third party in the Municipal Election.
When do candidates need to remove their lawn signs?
Per the Municipal Election Sign By-law, Candidates are required to remove election signs within five days following a Municipal Election.
Are candidates or people representing candidates allowed to canvass in apartment buildings/condos?
Section 88.1 of the Municipal Elections Act states the following:
“No person who is in control of an apartment building, condominium building, non-profit housing cooperative or gated community may prevent a candidate or a representative from campaigning between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. at the doors of apartments, units or houses, as the case may be.”
Despite these legislative provisions, candidates may experience difficulty in gaining access to certain premises. If this occurs, candidates should contact the owner of the rental building or the board of directors of the condominium and request they instruct their staff of the legislative right of candidates to have access to these buildings for canvassing purposes.
Note: The Clerk will not intervene on behalf of any candidate to secure access to any buildings for the purpose of canvassing or distributing election material.
No, according to section 88.20 (8) of the Municipal Elections Act, the cost of parties and gifts of appreciation after the close of voting do not count towards your regular expense limit for the election. However, these costs are subject to a separate expense limit established in section 88.20 (9) of the MEA.
