Information for Candidates

Candidates' packages containing all pertinent information on the nomination process will be available starting Friday, May 1, 2026, until Friday, August 21, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. 

On Monday, October 26, 2026, voters will elect a mayor, councillor for their ward and a school board trustee for their respective school board.

Qualifications for Running

To run for any office in a municipal election, on the day the nomination paper is filed, a person must be:

  • A Canadian citizen
  • At least 18 years of age
  • A resident of the city of Windsor, or
  • An owner or tenant of land in the city of Windsor, or the spouse of the owner or tenant
  • Not legally prohibited from voting
  • Not disqualified by any legislation from holding municipal office

Persons Disqualified from Running

The following are disqualified from being elected, or from holding office:

  • Any person who is not eligible to vote in the municipality
  • Any employee of a municipality or school board who has not taken an unpaid leave of absence and resigned
  • A judge of any court
  • A member of parliament (MP), a member of provincial parliament (MPP), or a senator
  • An inmate serving a sentence in a penal or correctional institution
  • A candidate who failed to file the necessary financial statement in the last municipal election or by-election

City of Windsor Employees

  • Employees of the City of Windsor who wish to run for the Office of Mayor or the Office of Ward Councillor, must take an unpaid leave of absence beginning no later than the day the person is nominated and ending on Voting Day.
  • The employee must provide a copy of the documentation showing that they have taken the leave of absence and the effective date.

Filing a Nomination

In order to run for public office for the upcoming municipal election, a candidate must file the prescribed Form 1, Nomination Paper at the Office of the City Clerk, 350 City Hall Square West, Windsor, Ontario, during normal office hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday (excluding holidays) from Friday, May 1, to Thursday, August 20, 2026; or on Nomination Day, Friday, August 21, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 

A candidate must file the nomination paper in person, as an original signature is required. The candidate will be required to show suitable identification, and pay a filing fee paid by cash, credit or debit card, certified cheque or money order (payable to City of Windsor).

Nomination Filing Fee:

  • Mayor — $200
  • Councillor/School Board Trustee — $100

Please note that the filing fee is refunded after the candidate files the Form 4, Financial Statement.

The nomination of a person running for the upcoming municipal election must be endorsed by at least 25 persons on the prescribed Form 2, Endorsement of Nomination. The person endorsing the nomination must be eligible to vote in Windsor. Please note, candidates for school board trustee do not have to submit endorsement signatures.

When a candidate submits the Form 1, Nomination Paper, it must be signed in the presence of the Clerk or designate. The onus is on the person nominated to file a bona fide nomination paper.

However, if a nomination is filed by an agent, the candidate's declaration must be completed prior to filing. If the form is not signed upon filing, the nomination form will not be accepted.

Withdrawing a Nomination

A candidate who wishes to withdraw their nomination paper must file, at the Office of the City Clerk, a written withdrawal by no later than 2:00 pm on Friday, August 21, 2026, (Nomination Day) and you will be required to provide identification. Please note that you will still be required to submit a Form 4, Financial Statement by the filing deadline date.

Candidate Forms

Note: If you are unable to open any of the following links in your web browser, download the documents to your computer or device, and the documents can be opened from there.

Form 1 Nomination Paper (To be completed by a person wishing to be a candidate in a municipal or school board election. Must be filed with the clerk of the municipality responsible for conducting the election, along with the prescribed fee.)

Form 2 Endorsement of Nomination (If you are running for municipal council and your municipality has more than 4,000 electors, you must submit endorsement signatures from 25 people who are eligible to vote in the municipality. Candidates for school board trustee and candidates for municipal council in municipalities with 4,000 or fewer electors do not have to submit endorsement signatures.)

Form 4 Financial Statement and Auditor's Report (To be completed by every candidate in a municipal or school board election. Must be filed with the municipal clerk.)

Form 5 Financial Statement - Subsequent Expenses (To be completed by a candidate who incurs costs related to a recount, controverted election or compliance audit after the supplementary campaign period has passed, and who receives the surplus funds from their campaign held in trust from the clerk.)

Form 6 Notice of Extension of Campaign Period (To be completed by a candidate who has a deficit at the end of the regular campaign period and wishes to extend their campaign. Must be filed with the municipal clerk.)

Office of the City Clerk
Suite 530 - 350 City Hall Square West
Windsor, Ontario, Canada, N9A 6S1
Phone: For general election information, call 311.
For detailed election inquiries, please call (519) 255-6100 ext. 6285.
Fax: (519) 255-6868
Email: clerkselections@citywindsor.ca

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