Information for Candidates
The municipal and school board elections takes place on October 26, 2026
Serving on Welland City Council is a meaningful opportunity to help shape the future of our community, but it also carries significant responsibilities and requires thoughtful decision-making.
Council members address important local issues, consider a wide range of perspectives, and often navigate complex or sensitive matter all while acting in the best interests of Welland residents.
Important: Candidates must make an appointment to bring in nomination papers. Appointments can be made by calling 905-735-1700 x2160 for by emailing elections@welland.ca
Offices to be elected:
Electors in the City of Welland will be voting for the following offices:
- 1 Mayor
- 2 Ward Councillors
- 2 Regional Councillors
- 1 School Board Trustee
A candidate list will be published on this website once the first nomination has been filed. The nomination period opens on Friday, May 1 at 8:30 a.m.
Who can run for Council:
To run for municipal Council, you must meet the following requirements:
- be a Canadian citizen and at least 18 years of age
- be a resident or non-resident elector in the municipality where you are filing your nomination
- be eligible to hold office on the day your nomination is filed
For more detailed guidance, consult the Ontario Municipal Councillor’s Guide.
More information for candidates
1. You cannot campaign until after you file your nomination
You are not allowed to campaign before you officially submit your nomination papers. This means you cannot:
- Put up signs
- Hand out flyers or brochures
- Fundraise or accept donations
- Spend money on campaign activities
- Advertise or introduce yourself as a candidate
- Publicly say you are “running” in an official way
You can privately explore the idea of running, talk to supporters, and do personal planning — but nothing that looks like campaigning.
2. Make sure you are eligible to run
On the day you file your nomination, you must:
- Be a Canadian citizen
- Be at least 18 years old
- Live in the municipality or own/lease property there (or be the spouse of someone who does)
- Not be disqualified under the Municipal Elections Act or any other law
3. Municipal employees must take leave before being nominated
If you work for the municipality or certain local boards, you must take an unpaid leave of absence before you file your nomination.
4. You cannot accept donations or spend any money before nomination
Before you file your papers:
- You cannot accept financial contributions
- You cannot spend money on a campaign
After nomination, before spending or receiving money:
- You must open a campaign bank account, advise the city clerk your account number
- You can only do this after filing your nomination
5. You may prepare privately, but not act like a candidate
Before you are officially nominated, you can:
- Research issues
- Attend meetings as a resident
- Build personal connections
- Learn about the role
- Attend municipal information sessions
But you cannot do anything that signals you are already a candidate.
6. Prepare your paperwork (but don’t submit early)
You can get ready by preparing:
- Your ID
- Your 25 endorsement signatures
- Your financial tracking tools
- Your campaign planning materials
You can only submit nomination papers after May 1, 2026.
7. Attend candidate information sessions
Municipalities, AMO, and the Ministry host sessions that explain:
- Legal responsibilities
- Campaign rules
- Finances
- What the role involves
These sessions are educational — they do not count as campaigning.
Additional resources:
Upcoming events:
- Candidate Information Night
Wednesday, April 29
Welland Community Centre - Free Workshop Series and Leadership Programs from AMO
Resources for candidates:
- Ontario Municipal and School Board Elections Website
- School board trustee elections at ontario.ca
- Municipal Elections (AMO)
If you have any questions regarding the information on this website, please call 905-735-1700 or email elections@welland.ca
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