Candidates | City of Peterborough

Nominations for the 2026 Municipal Election

To ensure the appropriate staff are available to process your nomination papers please book an appointment by emailing elections@peterborough.ca or by calling 705-742-7777 ext 1619.

We appreciate your interest in serving the City of Peterborough in the 2026 Municipal and School Board election as Mayor, Councillor, or School Board Trustee.

The following guides are available to you to cover essential topics, including:

Eligibility to run for office
Nominations and campaigning
Voting Day procedures
Campaign finances

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing - 2026 Candidate's Guide (Part A)

City of Peterborough - 2026 Candidate's Guide

The nomination period for the City of Peterborough municipal election runs from Friday, May 1, 2026, to Friday, August 21, 2026 (closing at 2 p.m.). Submissions are accepted by appointment only. To schedule your filing, please email elections@peterborough.ca.

The following forms are required to be completed and brought with you to your nomination appointment:

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing - Nomination Paper - Form 1
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing - Endorsement of Nomination - Form 2 (council only)
Declaration of Council Qualifications - EL 418A (council only)
Declaration of Qualifications - EL 418B (school board trustee only)
Consent to Release Personal Information - EL 52
Candidate Declaration - Proper Use of the Voters' List Form - EL 14
Candidate Name Spelling and Pronunciation Form - EL 200
Guidelines for Use of Corporate Resources

You will also need to bring with you:

One form of government issued photo identification (must be valid, current and containing a qualifying address in the City of Peterborough.
If you are running as a non-resident owner or tenant of land in the City of Peterborough or the spouse of such non-resident owner or tenant, you will need to provide proof of this in addition to photo identification.
Filing fee: $200 Mayor, $100 Councillor or School Board Trustee. Payment can be made by cash, debit, credit card, certified cheque or money order.

If you cannot access the digital forms, physical copies are available at the Clerk's Office.

Campaign Financial Information

Interim Spending Limits for Candidates

As required under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, an Interim Certificate of Maximum Campaign Expenses is based on the number of electors on the Voters' List for 2022.

Jump to Campaign Financial Information

Resources for Candidates

The Association of Municipalities of Ontario has a comprehensive list of resources for prospective candidates including free workshops; guides to helping you make the decision to run or run again, to building your team, crafting your message, and getting out the vote.

These resources also cover what municipal councils do, what it means to serve your community, and the steps involved in launching a successful campaign.

All of these resources can be found here: Association of Municipalities of Ontario Election Resources

Recording of Candidate 101 Information Session held on March 31, 2026

Local Leadership Starts Here!

Click the link below to view the April 8th presentation from the Cavan Monaghan Community Centre:

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Candidate Orientation Session Presentation

Campaign Financial Information

As required under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, an Interim Certificate of Maximum Campaign Expenses is based on the number of electors on the Voters' List for 2022.

Interim Certificates of Maximum Campaign Expenses are certified by the City Clerk and provided to potential candidates in a candidate's package following the filing of their nomination papers.

Interim Certificate - Maximum Campaign Expenses
Position	Parties and Expressions of Appreciation	Self-Contribution Limits	Maximum Campaign Expenses
Mayor	$6,286.39	$20,526.80	$62,863.90
Ward 1	$1,604.66	$7,599.20	$16,046.60
Ward 2	$1,614.26	$7,621.80	$16,142.65
Ward 3	$1,596.07	$7,579.20	$15,960.75
Ward 4	$1,531.64	$7,427.40	$15,316.45
Ward 5	$1,689.66	$7,799.20	$16,896.60

Please note these limits are based on the electors numbers from the 2022 Voters' List. A final spending limit will be sent by Registered Mail to the address provided on the nomination forms, no later than Wednesday, September 30, 2026. It will be based on the Voters' List for the 2026 municipal election. In the event of a mail strike, alternative means will be used and communicated to the candidate in advance. The higher calculated amount will prevail.