Nominations open May 1 for 2026 municipal election
The 2026 Municipal Election and School Board Election will be held on October 26, 2026. Interested candidates may file their nomination for City of Kitchener council starting May 1, 2026 until August 21, 2026 at 2 p.m. at Kitchener City Hall.
To be eligible as a candidate in this year’s Municipal and School Board Election, you must meet the following requirements:
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A Canadian citizen
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At least 18 years of age
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A resident of the City of Kitchener, a non-resident owner or tenant of land in Kitchener or the spouse of such non-resident, owner or tenant
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Not legally prohibited from voting
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Not disqualified by any legislation from holding municipal office
Nomination procedure
To run for the office of mayor, city councillor, or school board trustee, individuals must file a nomination paper and provide proof of qualifying address within the municipality or school board jurisdiction and the appropriate filing fee. Additionally, mayor and councillor nominees must provide at least 25 endorsements of nomination from eligible voters. The nomination paper and endorsement of nomination forms must have original signatures.
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The prescribed Nomination Paper may be obtained online or in person at Kitchener City Hall and filed at City Hall:
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Weekdays from May 1, 2026 to August 20, 2026 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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No later than Nomination Day, Friday, August 21, 2026 during the hours of 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.
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The Nomination Paper shall be accompanied by a filing fee in cash, debit, certified cheque or money order payable to the municipality in the amount of:
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$200.00 for the office of the Mayor
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$100.00 for any other office
It's important to note that, until a nomination paper is filed, a person cannot raise or spend any money on their campaign.
Candidates interested in running for Region of Waterloo council positions must file in person with the Regional Clerk at 150 Fredrick Street, Kitchener, Ontario.
Nomination appointments available
Candidates interested in running in the 2026 election can book an appointment to submit their nomination. City staff will review nomination paperwork and share details on the election process.
Appointments can be booked online at KitchenerVotes.ca and will be offered in person at the City’s corporate contact centre. One-hour appointments are available Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The last day to book an appointment is Thursday, August 20. Nominations will be accepted by walk-in only on Friday, August 21, 2026.
Register to vote
Eligible voters can complete the first step in preparing to vote this fall. Visit RegisterToVoteON.ca to check that you are registered to vote, add or verify your details, or update your address or contact information.
For more information on this year’s election in Kitchener, including information on accessible voting, running for office, details on third party advertising and more, visit KitchenerVotes.ca.
Land acknowledgement
The City of Kitchener is situated on the traditional territory of the Chonnonton, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee Peoples. We recognize our responsibility to act as stewards for the land and honour the original caretakers who came before us. Our community is enriched by the enduring knowledge and deep-rooted traditions of the diverse First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples who live in Kitchener today.