2026 Municipal Elections
Candidate Nominations
Nominations will be accepted starting Friday, May 1, 2026 at 8:30 a.m.
The deadline for nominations is Friday, August 21, 2026 at 2 p.m.
Reminder: Candidates cannot raise funds or spend funding on their campaign until after they have filed a Nomination Paper.
| How to Register as a Candidate and Registration Documents |
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If you are interested in becoming a candidate in Richmond Hill's 2026 Municipal Elections, you may make an appointment with the Office of the City Clerk to file your nomination paper and review several forms and procedures using a Nomination Checklist that will be provided during your Nomination meeting.
Meetings are held at the Office of the City Clerk located at 225 East Beaver Creek Road in Richmond Hill, Monday to Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., and take approximately 30 to 45 minutes. Contact candidates@richmondhill.ca to book your appointment.
Note: Walk-ins are permitted, however, individuals who do not book an appointment may experience a significant wait. Scheduling an appointment with the Office of the Clerk is highly recommended.
Nominations must be filed in person with a member of the City Clerk's Election Team as original signatures are required.
Nomination Forms
The forms required to file a nomination will be made available closer to May 1, 2026.
| Appointing an Agent to File a Nomination |
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All nominations must be filed in-person, either by a candidate or by an authorized agent. If you intend on appointing an agent to file your nomination, please let the Elections Team know when scheduling your nomination appointment.
The documents required for an agent to file a nomination for a candidate will be made available closer to May 1, 2026.
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Mayor and Council Candidates Eligibility
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Candidate Eligibility - Council
To run for Mayor, Regional and Local Councillor or Ward Councillor, on the day the nomination paper is filed, a person must be:
- a Canadian citizen
- at least 18 years of age
- a resident of the City of Richmond Hill, or
- an owner or tenant of land in the City of Richmond Hill, or the spouse of the owner or tenant
- not legally prohibited from voting
- not disqualified by any legislation from holding municipal office
Who is not eligible as a Council Candidate
The following people are disqualified from being elected as a member of Council, or from holding office as a member of Council:
- 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
- a candidate in the most recent regular municipal election or by-election who received a notice of default from the city clerk
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| School Board Trustee Candidates Eligibility |
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Who is eligible as a School Board Trustee Candidate
Pursuant to Section 219 (1) and (2) of the Education Act, school board trustees must meet the following qualification:
- A person is qualified to be elected as a member of a district school board or school authority if the person is qualified to vote for members of that district school board or that school authority and is resident in its area of jurisdiction.
- A person who is qualified under subsection (1) to be elected as a member of a district school board or school authority is qualified to be elected as a member of that district school board or school authority for any geographic area in the district school board's or school authority's area of jurisdiction, regardless of which positions on that district school board or school authority the person may be qualified to vote for.
- A member of a district school board or school authority is eligible for re-election if otherwise qualified.
- Canadian citizens aged 18 or older on or before Voting Day, who reside in the respective school board area of jurisdiction, and who are not prohibited from voting under any law on the day their nomination forms are filed are eligible to run for office.
The York Region District School Board's area of jurisdiction is all of York Region.
Who is not eligible as 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:
- A Clerk, Treasurer, Deputy Clerk or Deputy Treasurer of any municipality within the area of jurisdiction of the school board except for those on 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 the City Clerk cannot certify the nomination)
- A candidate who failed to file the required financial statement in the last municipal election
- School Board Employees, including supply teachers, who wish to be a candidate for and/or be elected as a School Board Trustee must take an unpaid leave of absence to register as a candidate. School board employees must take leave before filing nomination forms and must provide the City Clerk with proof of the leave of absence.
- A person who is serving a sentence of imprisonment in a penal or correctional institution
The boundaries for the Conseil scolaire Viamonde (French Public) and Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir (French Catholic) expand beyond Richmond Hill. Information on elections to the French school boards will be made available by April 1, 2026.
Types of School Boards
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