Municipal Election Nominations Open May 1

Peterborough, ON – The campaign period for the municipal election on Monday, October 26, 2026, begins Friday, May 1 with the opening of the nomination period to file to run as a candidate for City Council or school board trustee. 

Candidate guides and required forms are now available on the City website at peterboroughvotes.ca.  

The Municipal Candidate Guide includes information on:  

• nomination procedures  
• election sign guidelines  
• campaign expense limits  
• ward boundary maps  
• mandatory submission forms  

In addition to the City’s Municipal Candidate Guide, the Government of Ontario provides a 2026 Candidates’ Guide for municipal council and school board elections. The guide includes general information on nominations, campaigning, third-party advertising and campaign finance. 

To file for office, candidates must submit a completed nomination form, an applicable filing fee of $200 for mayoral candidates and $100 for councillor or school board trustee candidates, and endorsement signatures from at least 25 eligible electors in the municipality. An elector is a person who is eligible to vote in the City of Peterborough. Electors may endorse more than one candidate. The endorsement requirement does not apply to school board trustee candidates.  

In the City of Peterborough, positions for election are Mayor and two ward Councillors for each of the five wards (Otonabee, Monaghan, Town, Ashburnham, and Northcrest) for City Council, as well as trustee positions for the following school boards: 

• Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board  
• Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board  
• Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir  
• Conseil scolaire Viamonde  

The nomination period will run until Nomination Day on August 21 at 2 p.m.  

Nomination filings are accepted by appointment through the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall, 500 George St. N. To schedule an appointment, email elections@peterborough.ca or call 705-742-7777 ext. 1619. Valid photo ID showing proof of qualifying address in the City of Peterborough is required.