Municipal election nominations begin, new campaign rules and deadlines

As the old saying goes: if you want it done right, do it yourself.

Nominations for Fort Erie’s 2026 municipal election have opened with strict rules on campaign finances, timing and voter data that take effect once papers are filed.

The Town of Fort Erie began accepting candidate nominations May 1 for mayor, council and school board seats ahead of the October 26 vote. The cutoff date is August 21 at 2 p.m. Candidates must submit forms, endorsements and fees to the municipal clerk, and campaigns can only raise or spend money after nominations are accepted.

Candidates must file a nomination paper, endorsement signatures and a fee of $200 for mayor or $100 for councillor or trustee positions through the clerk’s office at town hall.

The campaign period begins only when the clerk receives a completed nomination, which controls when candidates can accept contributions or incur expenses.

Provincial rules set new limits on how candidates handle the voters’ list. Candidates must provide written acknowledgements before accessing the list, restrict sharing and destroy all copies after the campaign ends, according to Ontario’s 2026 candidates’ guide.

To qualify, candidates must be Canadian citizens aged 18 or older and eligible to vote in the municipality on nomination day. Municipal employees must take an unpaid leave of absence when they file and resign if elected.

Candidates running in municipalities with more than 4,000 electors, including Fort Erie, must submit 25 endorsement signatures from eligible voters in their nominations package. The clerk has until August 24 to certify or reject nominations.

The election will fill one mayoral seat, six ward councillor positions and school board trustee roles in Greater Fort Erie. A regional councillor seat remains listed, though its future depends on pending provincial legislation.

Campaign finance rules cap contributions from individuals at $1,200 per candidate and prohibit donations from corporations, unions and non-Ontario residents. Candidates and their spouses face separate limits based on the number of eligible voters.

Candidates who file must submit a financial statement after the campaign, even if they withdraw or are acclaimed. Failure to file by March 30, 2027, can trigger penalties that include loss of office or ineligibility to run in the next election.

Voting day is set for October 26. Polls will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

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