Information for Candidates

A person is entitled to be a candidate for Mayor or Councillor if he or she:

• is a resident of the Town of Prescott, or an owner or tenant of land, or the spouse of such an owner or tenant;
• is a Canadian citizen;
• is at least 18 years old; and
• is not legally prohibited from voting.

• a person who is serving a sentence of imprisonment in a penal or correctional institute
• a corporation
• a person acting as an executor or trustee or in any other representative capacity
• a person who ceases to be a Canadian citizen
• a person who is not a resident, the owner or tenant of land or the spouse of an owner or tenant of land in the municipality
• an employee of the municipality or local board unless he or she takes an unpaid leave of absence beginning the day the employee is nominated and resigns if elected to the office
• a judge of any court, a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario or the Senate or House of Commons of Canada
• a person who is prohibited from voting in an election according to the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 or the Municipal Act, 2001
• a person who has violated financial requirements for filing financial information in a previous election

* Despite the above disqualification, MPs, MPPs and Senators may be nominated for municipal office without having to resign their current seat in parliament. However, by 2:00 p.m. on Nomination Day, MPs, MPPs and Senators will be required to resign their current seat should they wish to continue to seek municipal office.

To run for the office of Mayor, Councillor, or School Board Trustee, candidates must file a prescribed nomination paper.  Candidates cannot raise or spend any money on their campaign until this nomination paper is filed. Nomination papers must be filed by the candidate, in person, or by an agent acting on the candidate’s behalf, at Prescott Town Hall, during regular office hours.  The nomination paper may not be faxed, mailed, or emailed, as an original signature is required. If an agent of the candidate is filing the nomination paper, the form must be fully completed prior to filing.

The candidate or the agent filing the nomination paper will be required to provide proof of identity.

Nomination Papers will be available online and can be picked up at Prescott Town Hall beginning May 1, 2018, at 9 a.m.

Nomination Papers can be submitted up until July 27, 2018, at 2 p.m.

Things needed for filing:

• A completed copy of the nomination paper
• A declaration of qualification signed by the candidate
• Filing fee
• Proof of identity

NOTE: Please visit the Clerk's Office for a complete Nomination Package.

Nomination Papers are public documents and are available for inspection in the Clerk’s Office.

Filing Fees

Candidates must pay a filing fee when they submit their nomination papers.  These fees must be paid at the time of filing – by cash, debit, or certified cheque.

• The filing fee for a candidate running for Mayor is $200.
• The filing fee for a candidate running for Councillor or School Board Trustee is $100.

Nomination filing fees are refundable if the candidate’s financial statement and auditor’s report are filed on or before March 29, 2019 at 2 p.m.

Withdrawal of Nomination

A candidate who wishes to withdraw his or her nomination must notify the Clerk in writing before 2 p.m. on  July 27, 2018. The candidate must file his or her withdrawal or statement in person and may be required to provide identification.

The candidate will still be required to submit a financial statement (due no later than March 29, 2019, at 2 p.m.) covering all financial transactions up to the time of the withdrawal.