If you are thinking about running for office in the City of Cornwall, we encourage you to learn about eligibility requirements, how to file your nomination and financial statements, rules for third party advertisers and what to expect as a candidate.
Your eligibility
Please review the eligibility requirements to ensure you qualify to run for office in Cornwall.
| Running for Cornwall City Council |
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To run for council, you must be eligible to vote in Cornwall on the day you file your nomination. This means you must be:
If you work for the City of Cornwall, you must take a leave of absence starting the day you are nominated. If you win the election, you must resign from your city job. |
| Running for local school board trustee |
To run for trustee, you must:
If you work for the school board (including as a supply teacher), you must take a leave of absence before filing your nomination. If elected, you must resign from your job. |
Who cannot run for office?
You are not eligible to run for municipal or school board office if you are:
- Not eligible to vote in the municipality or school board district
- An employee who has not taken an unpaid leave of absence
- A judge of any court
- A member of the Provincial Parliament (MPP), Federal House of Commons (MP) or Senate (unless you resign by the nomination deadline)
- Serving a sentence in a prison or correctional institution
Filing your nomination
You need to fill out the Nomination Form, which is also available in person from the Office of the City Clerk. Clearly provide your name, address and all other required information. The form must be signed by you (the candidate). Please note that forms you submit cannot be copies and cannot be scanned or submitted electronically, as we need the original signatures.
Write your name exactly as you want it to appear on the ballot. If you commonly use a different name than your legal first name, you may use it if the City Clerk approves. You can only run for one office at a time. If you decide to run for a different office, your first nomination is considered withdrawn when you file your second nomination.
Book your appointment
You must book an appointment to file your completed form in person or through an agent between May 1, 2026 up to Friday August 21 at 2:00 p.m.
You can email the City Clerk or call 613-930-2787 ext. 2026 to book your appointment at:
- Cornwall City Hall at 360 Pitt St
- Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
You can pay the required fees to the City of Cornwall by cash, debit or credit card, certified cheque or money order. You must pay the filing fee at the time you submit your nomination:
- Mayor: $200.00
- Councillor or School Board Trustee: $100.00
| Mayor and Councillors only: Get endorsement signatures |
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You must submit 25 original signatures endorsing your nomination using the Endorsement of Nomination Form. Each person endorsing you must be eligible to vote in Cornwall and must sign a declaration to confirm this. You can also pick up a copy of the form from the Office of the City Clerk. We encourage you to have additional names, in the event that the person endorsing your nomination is not on the Voter’s List. School board trustee candidates do not need to submit endorsements. |
Withdrawing your nomination
If you decide to withdraw your nomination, you must notify the City Clerk in writing by Friday, August 21st - Nomination Day, no later than 2:00 p.m., using the Withdrawal of Nomination Form.
You are still required to file a campaign financial statement covering all financial transactions made during your campaign. If your campaign had no financial transactions, you must file a statement reporting this. We will refund your nomination fee if you file your financial statement by the deadline.
Consent to release your contact information
Once you file your nomination, your nomination paper becomes a public record under the Municipal Elections Act. This means anyone can view it at the Office of the City Clerk during regular business hours. If you wish to authorize the Office of the City Clerk to release your contact information, you must complete the Consent to Release Information by Candidate Form, which is also available in person. Please note that you are not required to give this permission.
Acclamations
If only one certified candidate is running for an office by Monday August 24, 2026 - Nomination Day, at the hour of 4:00 p.m., that candidate will be declared elected by acclamation. If the number of certified candidates for councillor is the same as or fewer than the number of seats available, those candidates will be elected by acclamation. For mayor, if only one candidate is certified, that candidate is elected by acclamation.
Making contributions to a candidate’s campaign
If you’re an Ontario resident, you can contribute to a candidate's campaign or to a third party advertiser to help fund their ads. You must follow the limits:
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$1,200 maximum to a single candidate
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$1,200 maximum to a single third party advertiser
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$5,000 total maximum to all candidates running for offices on the same council or school board, and to all third party advertisers registered in the same municipality
These limits include the value of any donated goods or services. It is your responsibility to know the rules and track your donations to avoid going over the limits.
| Groups are not eligible to contribute |
| Groups such as neighbourhood associations, clubs, or professional associations (like fire or police associations) cannot make financial contributions to candidates or third party advertisers. However, individual members may contribute on their own. |
Frequently asked questions
Do you have questions about running for office? Explore our frequently asked questions to find the answers you need.
| What would be my responsibilities as mayor or a councillor? |
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As mayor, you are responsible for providing leadership and acting as the official spokesperson for the City of Cornwall. You represent the City to the public and work with other levels of government. Your duties also include active participation on Council and its committees. As a councillor, you are part of the primary decision-making body for the City. There are eight councillors on Council. You will review reports and recommendations from City administration and various committees to help shape decisions. Your role is to develop policies and adopt bylaws or resolutions. The time required varies depending on your circumstances, including your employment. As a member of Council, you can expect to devote time to:
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| Can I use the City logo or resources for my campaign material? |
| No. You are strictly prohibited from using any corporate resources in your campaign materials, including the City logo, crest or images on signs, brochures, websites or any other election-related items. Please view the Political Activity, Use of Municipal Resources and Election Neutrality Policy for more information. |
| What are the rules regarding campaign signs? |
| Review the sign restrictions with your campaign team. For full details, please see the Election Sign By-Law. |
| How can I get a copy of the voters' list? |
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If you wish to obtain a copy of the voters' list, you must submit a written request using the Candidates' Request form and Declaration - Proper Use of the Voters' List form, which is included in the Candidate package. The list is only available to certified and nominated candidates. This form is also available from the Office of the City Clerk. You will also need to sign the declaration within the form confirming the proper use of the voters' list. If you are a nominated candidate for School Board Trustee, you can get the portion of the Cornwall voters' list that includes electors entitled to vote for that office. |
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