Information for Candidates and Third-Party Advertisers

The next municipal election will be held Monday, October 26, 2026.

If you are interested in running as a candidate for municipal office or participating as a third-party advertiser, please review the general information about the 2026 election and the details and resources below. 

If you have questions about running for Council or if you are ready to take the next step, contact the Municipal Clerk for Middlesex Centre. 

 

Information for Candidates

Who can run for Council?

A person is eligible to submit a nomination for office by meeting the following requirements:

  • a resident of the municipality or a non-resident owner or tenant of land in the municipality or the spouse of such non-resident owner or tenant;
  • a Canadian citizen and at least 18 years old; not legally prohibited from voting; and
  • not disqualified by any legislation from holding municipal office.

Please note that the following people are disqualified from holding office as a member of council:

  • an employee of the municipality unless they take an unpaid leave of absence beginning the day they are nominated, and resign if elected to office;
  • a judge of any court;
  • a Member of Parliament, a Member of Provincial Parliament, or a Senator; or
  • a candidate who failed to file the necessary financial statement(s) in the last municipal election.
How do I officially become a candidate? Submitting Nomination Papers

The municipality will begin accepting nomination submissions on May 1, 2026. 

Required Forms

Please complete but do not sign the forms. The forms must be signed at the Municipal Office in front of the Municipal Clerk or their designate when the Nomination Forms are received.

  1. Nomination Paper (Ontario Form 1) 
  2. Endorsement of Nomination (Ontario Form 2) with original signatures of 25 voters supporting your nomination. Note you will need to add additional boxes for all 25 endorsement signatures using the "Add Person (+)" button on the form.
  3. Declaration of Qualifications – Council (Form EL 18(A))
  4. Notice of Collection/Consent to Release Personal Information
  5. Declaration of Proper Use of Voters List

You may need to download the fillable forms (Form 1 and Form 2) to ensure they function appropriately. You may also download these forms as a complete package without the fillable function.

Additional Requirements

In addition to these forms, you will need to bring the following to your appointment with the Municipal Clerk:

  • Photo Identification and Proof of Residence (see Acceptable ID)
  • Nomination Filing Fee (paid by cash, debit card, certified cheque or money order, payable to ‘Municipality of Middlesex Centre’. Note that personal cheques and credit cards are not accepted.)
    • The filing fee is $200 for candidates running for Mayor and $100 for Ward Councillor.
    • Nomination fees are refunded to candidates once they file the required financial statement(s).

When you are ready to file your Nomination Papers, contact the Municipal Clerk's Office to schedule your appointment.

When is the last day a candidate can file their nomination papers?

Friday, August 21, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.

Is it possible to file nominations electronically?

No, you must file your nomination papers in-person at the municipal office. An appointment is required.

When can I start campaigning?

You can only start campaigning after you file your nomination papers with the Municipal Clerk.

Where can I learn more about being a municipal elected official and running for election?

ONE: The Middlesex County Campaign Information Session is scheduled for Tuesday, April 28 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Coldstream Community Centre. The session can be attended online or in-person. You must register to attend online. 

TWO: The Association of Ontario Municipalities (AMO) is a great resource for prospective candidates. AMO has a number of resources on how local government works and what it is like to serve on a municipal council. They offer a number of training courses for those interested in running for election, including courses focused on new and returning candidates. 

THREE: For each municipal election, the Province of Ontario releases a guide with information on registering as a candidate, campaign rules, financial filing requirements, and more. You can find this guide on the Province's Municipal Elections Website.

FOUR: Take a minute to review the list of resources further down on this page. 

FIVE: If you are interested running for Council and would like to be added to the list to receive election information updates, please contact the Municipal Clerk. 

 

Information for Third-Party Advertisers

What is a Third-Party Advertisement?

 A Third-Party Advertisement refers to an advertisement in any broadcast, print, electronic or other medium that promotes, supports or opposes a candidate in the election, or, a "yes" or "no" answer to a question on the ballot.

  • Participates in the election by running a campaign the same way a candidate would.
  • Ontario residents, corporations and trade unions that will incur expenses for such advertisements must register as a third-party advertiser with the Municipal Clerk before they can begin advertising.
  • Third-Party Advertising does not include issues-based advertising so groups that do public outreach can continue their issued-based advocacy work throughout the municipal election period.
  • Advertising that does not cost money to post or broadcast, such as comments made on social media, will not be considered Third-Party Advertising.
What is the time frame for Third-Party Advertisers register, and what's the process?

Third party advertisers must register with the Municipal Clerk between May 1, 2026 and 4:30 p.m. on Friday, October 23, 2026.

To register, you must complete a Notice of Registration - Third Party (Form 7). 

You or an agent must file this form in-person by appointment with the Municipal Clerk. You must provide proof of identity, and if you are representing a corporation or trade union you may require a resolution authorizing you to act on their behalf. The Clerk will review these requirements when you book your appointment.

Who can register as a Third-Party Advertiser?

Only the following persons and entities are eligible to file a notice of registration:

  • An individual who is normally a resident in Ontario.
  • A corporation that carries on business in Ontario.
  • A trade union that holds bargaining rights for employees in Ontario.
Who cannot register as a Third-Party Advertiser?

Persons and entities that are not eligible to file a notice of registration include:

  • A candidate whose nomination has been filed under Section 33 of the Municipal Elections Act.
  • A federal political party registered under the Canada Elections Act (Canada) or any federal constituency association or registered candidate at a federal election endorsed by that party.
  • A provincial political party, constituency association, registered candidate or leadership contestant registered under the Election Finances Act.
  • The Crown in right of Canada or Ontario, a municipality or local board.

 

Resources

Province of Ontario Resources

For each municipal election, the Province of Ontario releases a guide with information on registering as a candidate, campaign rules, financial filing requirements, and more. You can find this guide on the Province's Municipal Elections Website.

Other resources of note:

Middlesex Centre Resources

The following documents will be available prior to May 1:

  • Information for Candidates
  • Election Policies and Procedures
  • Election Accessibility Plan
Other Resources