• Candidate must be a resident of the Township of Rideau Lakes or a non-resident owner or tenant of land in the Township of Rideau Lakes 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.
  • You will need 25 signatures on your nomination form and must pay a fee of $100.

Despite the above, the following people are disqualified from being elected as a member of Council or from holding office as a member of Council:

  • an employee of the Municipality unless he or she takes an unpaid leave of absence beginning the day they are nominated and resigns 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; and
  • a candidate who failed to file the necessary financial statement(s) in the last Municipal election or by-election.

Municipal Candidates

An individual can become a candidate by filing the following information with the Returning Officer, beginning  May 1, 2026 during regular business hours and before Nomination Day of August 21, 2026 at 2:00 pm:

  • the prescribed Nomination Paper form 
  • the prescribed declaration by at least 25 persons endorsing the nomination who are eligible to vote 
  • a completed Consent to Release Personal Information
  • the prescribed nomination filing fee of  $100 for the office of Councillor

The candidate or the agent filing the nomination form is required to present proof of identity. 

Candidate's Guide

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs produces a Candidates' Guide to provide information to candidates in municipal and school board elections.  A link to this guide is available here.

These webpages provide potential Candidates and Third Party Advertisers with additional resources for the 2026 Municipal Election.

Note:

  • Spending on the Election can not take place until individuals have submitted their nomination papers
  • If candidates are spending or receiving funds for the election, they must open a bank account for that purpose.
  • Under the Private Sign Policy, Election signs are permitted on Township Right-of-ways and they must be removed within 2 weeks following an election.

Thinking of running? Get election-ready with two free training sessions from the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO).

Running for Municipal Office – Everything You Need to Know as an Underrepresented Candidate

Focused specifically on underrepresented candidates, this 90-minute workshop provides valuable insights and strategies to support you in getting your name on the ballot. To learn more or register, visit the AMO website.

Healthy Democracy Leadership Series – Stronger Leaders, Stronger Communities

This program is designed to equip candidates with the tools, resilience, and confidence to meet today’s political challenges head-on.

The series is offered in two streams: one for first-time candidates and one for candidates considering re-election. The courses provide a supportive, skills-focused environment to strengthen your leadership foundation and reconnect with the values that guide public service. Each stream includes four sessions. For more information or to register, visit AMO’s Healthy Democracy Project.

The first day that nominations can be filed for the upcoming election will be Friday, May 1, 2026

Nomination day (the final deadline to file a nomination) for the upcoming election will be Friday, August 21, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.

Key Dates

May 1: Nominations Open

August 21: Nominations Close at 2:00 p.m.

October 26: Voting Day

Who Is Running

As nominations are received, the Meet the Candidates page will be updated.