Candidate Information

Loyalist Township Offices to be Elected 

• Mayor to be elected at large 
• Deputy Mayor to be elected at large
• One Councillor for Ward Ward 1 to be elected by ward
• One Councillor for Ward 2 to be elected by ward
• Three Councillors for Ward 3 to be elected by ward

Offices to be elected for School Board Trustees

School Board Offices for which Persons may be Nominated:

1. English Public School Board Trustee
2. English Catholic School Board Trustee
3. French Public School Board Trustee
4. French Catholic School Board Trustee

Who can run for office?

A person is eligible to be a candidate if they are,

• a resident of the Loyalist Township, or an owner or tenant of land in the Township, or the spouse of such an owner or tenant;
• a Canadian citizen;
• at least 18 years old; and
• not legally prohibited from voting or disqualified from being elected/holding office as a member of Council (see below).

A person is eligible to be a candidate in a municipal election if they are an eligible elector. A candidate must be eligible as of the day they are nominated and must remain eligible throughout the election period and, if elected, throughout the term of office.

An individual may file their nomination papers to become a candidate in the 2026 Municipal Elections beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, May 1, 2026 until 2 p.m. on Friday, August 21, 2026. Additional information regarding the nomination process and forms will be available in early 2026.

Who cannot be a candidate?

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 they take an unpaid leave of absence beginning the day they are nominated and resign 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; or
• a candidate who failed to file the necessary financial statement(s) in the last municipal election or by-election.

Who can run for office for School Board Trustee?

A person is eligible to be a candidate for School Board Trustee if they are,

• a Canadian citizen;
• at least 18 years old;
• a resident within the board's area of jurisdiction;
• a supporter of that school board; and
• not legally prohibited from voting.

Who cannot be a School Board Trustee candidate?

The following people are disqualified from being elected as a School Board Trustee or from holding office on any school board:

• an employee of the school board unless they take an unpaid leave of absence beginning the day they are nominated and resign if elected to the office;
• a clerk, treasurer, deputy-clerk or deputy-treasurer of any municipality within the area of jurisdiction of the school board except those on an unpaid leave of absence;
• 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
• a candidate who failed to file the necessary financial statement(s) in the last municipal election or by-election.

Are You Considering Running in the 2026 Municipal Election?

The Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) is offering a series of workshops for people thinking about running for municipal office in the October 2026 elections.

Focused specifically on diverse candidates, this free 90-minute virtual workshop provides useful insights and strategies to support you in getting your name on the ballot. While these workshops do offer a focus on individuals from underrepresented communities, all are welcome. Registration is free and the workshop is provided virtually on the following dates:

• February 4, 2026 from 10:30am-12pm
• April 8, 2026 from 10am-11:30am

Register Here

For more event information please visit the AMO webpage directly.

AMO is also offering a no-charge virtual Healthy Democracy Leadership Series: Supporting Local Leadership in run up to the 2026 Municipal Elections. This series has two streams: 

• Stream 1: For elected officials at the municipal level across Ontario who are considering re-election in 2026 and preparing their path forward.
• Stream 2: For community members considering a run for municipal office in 2026—first-time candidates who want to build confidence before launching a campaign. Civic-minded leaders who want to explore whether elected office is right for them.

For more information on the series and registration please visit AMO's webpage directly.

An information session for youth considering running for municipal office is also being held by AMO.

These sessions will provide insights and strategies to build your understanding and confidence around how to become a candidate and running a campaign. Registration is free and the workshop is provided virtually on the following dates:

• Wednesday, February 18, 2026 from 6:30pm-8:00pm
• Wednesday, March 11, 2026 from 6:30pm-8:00pm
• Wednesday, April 15, 2026 from 6:30pm-8:00pm

Register Here

For more event information please visit the AMO webpage directly.