Register as a Candidate

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Run for Markham City Council or School Board Trustee in the upcoming municipal election and help shape our community!

Local government and school boards deliver services that residents rely on every day

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Let’s build Markham’s future – together… for a diverse, engaged, vibrant and thriving community.

Register online using Election Markham’s secure nomination portal from May 2 at 9 AM to August 19, 2022 at 2 PM.

Register as a Candidate

Persons interested in running for local office in the 2022 Markham Municipal Election can register online with the City Clerk / Returning Officer. Candidates cannot spend or raise election funds until their paperwork has been signed by Elections Markham, following their nomination meeting.

You can run for office on Markham City Council if you are:

  • A Canadian citizen; and
  • At least 18 years of age; and
  • A Markham resident, property owner or tenant (or their spouse); and 
  • Legally allowed to vote in the election; and,
  • Not disqualified from holding elected office by law.

Council candidates are required to have at least 25 eligible Markham voters endorse their nomination. Record these using the Endorsement of Nomination Form and upload your completed forms when you register online. Candidates are required to collect original, non-digital signatures from each voter endorsing their nomination. It’s recommended that you collect more than 25 signatures in case some aren’t accepted.

Download Endorsement of Nomination Form [PDF]

You cannot run for office on Markham City Council if you are:

  • An employee of the City of Markham (unless you take an unpaid leave of absence before being nominated and resign if elected); or
  • A judge of any court; or
  • A member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, Senate or House of Commons; or
  • An inmate of a penal or correctional institution; or,
  • Disqualified for previous violations of election campaign finance law.

You can run for School Board Trustee if you are:

  • A Canadian citizen; and
  • At least 18 years of age; and
  • A resident of the school board’s jurisdiction; and
  • Eligible to vote for the school board; and,
  • Not disqualified from holding elected office by law. 

You cannot run for School Board Trustee if you are:

  • An employee of any Ontario school board (unless you take an unpaid leave of absence before being nominated, and resign if elected); or
  • A clerk, deputy clerk, treasurer or deputy treasurer of any municipality in the jurisdiction of the school board; or
  • A judge of any court; or
  • A member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, Senate or House of Commons; or
  • An inmate of a penal or correctional institution; or
  • Disqualified for previous violations of election campaign finance law.

Candidates can register online starting May 2 at 9:00 AM using Election Markham’s secure nomination portal and eSignature software. Forms cannot be downloaded, signed and sent by email or submitted in-person.

Candidate nomination appointments are being held virtually by registration only. In-person appointments and drop-ins are not available.

Please follow the steps below to register as a candidate and schedule a nomination appointment with Elections Markham:

  • Step 1: Confirm your eligibility
  • Step 2: Read the Candidates’ Guide for Ontario Municipal Council & School Board Elections [PDF]
  • Step 3: Scan or take a picture of the following identification:
    • Photo ID
      • Ontario Driver’s Licence, Ontario Photo Card, Canadian Passport, Certificate of Indian Status, etc.
    • Proof of Canadian citizenship
      • Canadian Passport, Canadian Birth Certificate, Certificate of Canadian Citizenship, Citizenship Card, etc.
    • Proof of qualifying address
      • Ontario Driver’s Licence, Photo Card, property tax bill, utility bill, insurance policy, pay stub from current employer, etc.
  • Step 4: If you are running for Council, scan or take a picture of your completed Endorsement of Nomination Form [PDF], with original (non-digital) signatures from at least 25 Markham voters
    • If you are scanning your completed forms, please scan all pages together as a single file
    • If you are taking a picture of your completed forms, please photograph each page separately for legibility
  • Step 5: Access Elections Markham’s Candidate Nomination Portal
  • Step 6: Book and attend your virtual Candidate Nomination Meeting
  • Step 7: Pay your nomination fee online by credit card (Visa, MasterCard or American Express)
    • Mayoral Candidates: $200
    • Regional Councillor, Ward Councillor, or School Board Trustee Candidates: $100

Register Now

 

To withdraw your candidacy, you can file a Withdrawal of Nomination Form with the Returning Officer / City Clerk by August 19, 2022 at 2 PM. Candidate withdrawals are accepted in person by appointment

  • Step 1: Contact Elections Markham to make an appointment to withdraw your nomination at the Elections Markham Returning Office
    Step 2: Complete and sign a Withdrawal of Nomination Form
    Candidates who withdraw from the election are still required to file a post-election campaign financial statement by March 31, 2023 at 2 PM.

Elections Markham
Markham Civic Centre
101 Town Centre Boulevard
Markham, Ontario, L3R 9W3
905.477.7000 x8683 (VOTE)
vote@markham.ca

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