Information for Candidates

Nomination Period (Candidate Registration)

In order to become a candidate, you must file a Nomination Paper with the Municipal Clerk. Nominations can only be filed during the nomination period, which is:

1. Friday May 1, 2026 to Thursday August 20, 2026 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (excluding weekends and holidays); and

2. Nomination Day: Friday August 21, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Please call the Clerk's Office, at 519-773-3164 ext. 4913 or email clerks@town.aylmer.on.ca to make an appointment to receive a Candidates Package or to file your nomination.

You can file your nomination paper at:

Town of Aylmer Municipal Office
46 Talbot Street West
Aylmer, ON

Offices to be Elected

In accordance with the Municipal Election Act, the Clerk conducts elections every four years for the offices of:

• Mayor (1)
• Councillors (6)
• School Board Trustee information TBA

Qualification of a Member of Council

A person may be nominated for an office only if, as of the day the individual files a nomination paper, they are:

• 18 years of age or older; AND
• A Canadian citizen; AND
• A resident of the Town of Aylmer OR an owner or tenant of land in the Town of Aylmer OR the spouse of such a person AND
• Eligible to vote.

Employees of the Town of Aylmer who wish to run for Council must take an unpaid leave of absence before filing a nomination paper. A person shall not be considered an employee of a municipality or local board for the purposes of this section by reason only of being a volunteer firefighter as defined in the Fire Protection and Prevention Act.

Persons who are disqualified from being elected to municipal office:

• Any person not eligible to vote in the municipality;
• A judge of any court;
• A member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, a Senator or a member of the House of Commons;
• An inmate of a penal or correctional insitution under sentence of imprisonment;
• Any person who by reason of any violations of the election campaign financial requirements or violations for note filing the financial statements pursuant to the Municipal Elections Act.

Nomination Requirements

A person may be nominated for an office by filing a nomination in the Clerk’s Office, in person or by an agent.

25 Endorsement Signatures Required: The nomination for an office on Council must be endorsed and signed by at least 25 persons:

• Each person who signs the candidate’s endorsement may endorse more than one nomination;
• All persons endorsing a nomination must be eligible to vote in an election for an office within the Town of Aylmer, if a regular election was held on the day that the person endorses the nomination;
• Endorsements must be completed and signed on Form 2 (print multiple copies, as Form 2 only allows for 5 endorsements);
• Collecting more than 25 endorsements is good practice in case one endorsement is completed incorrectly;
• School Board Trustee candidates do not require endorsements.

Requirements for Nomination: The nomination must be completed in full and filed in person by the candidate or an agent of the candidate and includes:

1. Identification for proof of identity (eg: Driver’s Licence, Passport, Birth Certificate, etc.)
2. A completed copy of the Nomination Paper (Form 1)
3. A declaration of qualification (Form 2) from each of the 25 people endorsing the nomination (for Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Council candidates only)
4. The filing fee

If filing by agent, the agent must present a commissioned Agent Appointment Form

Filing Fee

There is a $200.00 filing fee for Mayoral candidates and a $100.00 filing fee for Councillors.

The filing fee must be paid when you file your nomination paper and the payment must be:

• Cash
• Certified Cheque or money order payable to “The Town of Aylmer”
• Debit Card
• No Personal Cheque will be accepted

The filing fee is not considered a campaign expense, but rather, a personal expense, and will be returned to you upon successful filing of your campaign financial statement.

Certification of Nomination Papers

Prior to 4:00 p.m. on the Monday following Nomination Day (August 24, 2026), the Municipal Clerk shall examine each nomination filed, and if satisfied the person qualified to be nominated and that the nomination complies with the Municipal Elections Act, the Municipal Clerk shall certify as such on the nomination filed.

If not satisfied, the Municipal Clerk shall reject the nomination and give notice to the person who sought to be nominated and all other candidates for that office.

The Municipal Clerk’s decision to certify or reject a nomination is final. The Municipal Clerk will consider the following criteria to certify or reject individual nominations:

• Candidate has refused or declined to provide proof of identification;
• Candidate does not satisfy the requirements set out in the Municipal Elections Act in Section 29 (1);
• The nomination form is incomplete;
• The filing fee has not been paid
• The necessary financial disclosure was not filed for the previous election in which the individual may have been a candidate.

A full list of certified candidates will be made available on the List of Candidates Page.

Resources

• Candidate resources are available on the main page: https://getinvolved.aylmer.ca/2026-election
• Q&A for Prospective and Registered Candidates

Contact Us

Owen Jaggard Director of Legislative Services/Clerk
519-773-3164 ext. 4913
ojaggard@town.aylmer.on.ca(External link)

Legislative Services Department Deputy Returning Officers
519-773-3164 ext. 9006
clerks@town.aylmer.on.ca

Thinking of Running in the 2026 Municipal Election?

Are you thinking about running for Council in the 2026 Municipal Election? The Town of Aylmer is inviting residents to learn more through a series of free information sessions.

These sessions are open to anyone interested in running for office in Aylmer. No registration is required.

The “Thinking of Running” series will help you understand what it means to serve in elected office and what you need to know before putting your name on the ballot.

Session 1: So You Want to Run for Council

Friday, March 27, 2026
7:00 p.m.
East Elgin Community Complex – Imperial Hall
531 Talbot Street West, Aylmer

Representatives from the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs will give a presentation and answer questions about running for municipal office.

Session 2: Stepping Up – Why Run for Municipal Office

Monday, April 13, 2026
7:00 p.m.
Old Town Hall Theatre
38 John Street South, Aylmer

This panel discussion features experienced leaders sharing why they ran for office, what the job is really like, and advice for future candidates. The evening includes a question-and-answer period and discussion about strong mayor powers.

Panelists include:

• Dr. Kate Graham – Municipal governance researcher and author

• Mary French – Former Mayor of Aylmer and Elgin County Warden

• Steve Peters – Former Mayor of St. Thomas and former Ontario Cabinet Minister

Please use this form to submit a question to the panelists.

Session 3: Municipal Election Drop-in Q&A (Aylmer)

Monday, May 4, 2026
6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Trackless Lounge, 56169 Heritage Line, Straffordville

Wednesday, May 13, 2026
6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Malahide Community Place, 12105 Whittaker Road, Springfield

Tuesday, May 19, 2026
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Council Chambers
25 Centre Street, Aylmer

These informal drop-in sessions give residents a chance to speak directly with election administrators. You can ask questions about:

• Eligibility

• Nomination forms

• Key timelines

• Campaign rules

• Voting methods

Can't make it to your local drop-in? Residents can attend any session.

Have Questions?

For more information about running in Aylmer, please contact:

Town of Aylmer – Clerk’s Office
519-773-3164 ext. 4913
Email
www.getinvolved.aylmer.ca/2026-election

If you care about your community and want to make a difference, consider stepping forward in 2026. Municipal government plays an important role in everyday services and local decision-making — and you could be part of it.