What to know
- Toronto’s municipal election nomination period closes Friday, Aug. 21 at 2 p.m.
- Candidates for mayor, council and school board trustee must file their nomination papers in person at City Hall.
- Mayor and council candidates must submit at least 25 original endorsement signatures.
- Filing fees are $200 for mayoral candidates and $100 for councillor and school board trustee candidates.
Still thinking about running in this year’s municipal election? Well, you better think fast — the deadline to file a nomination ahead of October’s polling day is Friday.
After months of candidates filing their nominations, the nomination period is now in its final hours, with the deadline set for Aug. 21 at 2 p.m.
That means your chance to run for mayor, city council or school board trustee isn’t over just yet.
Those still hoping to get their name on the ballot must file their nomination papers in person at Toronto City Hall with the City Clerk before the deadline.
Candidates running for mayor or city councillor must also submit at least 25 original endorsement signatures from eligible voters.
There is also a filing fee. Candidates running for mayor must pay $200, while those running for councillor or school board trustee must pay $100. Fees can be paid by cash, credit or debit card, certified cheque or money order, payable to “Treasurer, City of Toronto.”
The fees are refundable once candidates file the required financial statement following the election.
Who can run?
To run for mayor or city council, candidates must be Canadian citizens and at least 18 years old. They must also be a resident of Toronto, an owner or tenant of land in the city, or the spouse of an owner or tenant.
For those interested in becoming a school board trustee, the requirements are slightly different. Candidates must be Canadian citizens, at least 18 years old, a resident within the jurisdiction of the school board they wish to represent and not legally prohibited from voting.
The city’s four publicly funded school boards are also included in this year’s election, meaning aspiring trustees have until Friday afternoon to get their nominations filed.
And for anyone who has been thinking about making a run but hasn’t pulled the trigger yet, the clock is officially ticking.
The nomination period closes Friday, Aug. 21 at 2 p.m., after that, the list of candidates for Toronto’s Oct. 26 municipal election will be set.
