Candidate Resources

Review candidate information, forms, and resources from various organizations.

Running as a candidate

Candidate Information Guide

Norfolk County's Candidate Information Guide (PDF) provides an overview of eligibility requirements, key dates, nomination steps, campaign rules, financial requirements, and policies and procedures. The guide is a helpful starting point for both first-time and returning candidates.

Sign By-law (By-Law 2022-30)

Per the election sign bylaw (2022-30), election signs associated with a municipal election shall not be erected or displayed any earlier than after 12:00 p.m. thirty (30) days prior to Voting Day and shall be removed seven (7) days after the completion of the election, as defined in the Municipal Elections Act, 1996.

All campaign signs and other advertising must identify that the candidate is responsible for the sign. This is so that people seeing the sign or advertisement can tell that it is from their campaign, rather than from a third-party advertiser.

An Election sign may not:

Be erected or authorized by anyone other than a registered candidate
Be attached to a Tree
Have flashing lights or rotating parts
Be situated within 100 meters of a Voting Place on Election Day
Display the Norfolk County logo or seal
Be displayed earlier than 30 days prior to Voting Day
Be left in place longer than 7 days after Voting Day

Use of Corporate Resources (Policy GP-49)

Before beginning campaign activities, candidates are encouraged to review: Policy GP-49 – Use of Corporate Resources during an Election Campaign Period

The policy outlines the rules regarding the use of County facilities and property, County equipment and technology, County branding, logos, and imagery, as well as staff resources, services and other municipal assets during a municipal election.

To assist candidates and registered third parties in interpreting and applying Policy GP-49 – Use of Corporate Resources During an Election Campaign Period, the County Clerk provides the following clarifications:

The use of photographs or videos not produced by the County and taken from a publicly accessible location, which is used in election campaign advertising, does not constitute a contravention of the Corporate Use Policy.
This clarification still does not permit the use of County buildings or facilities for campaign events, activities, or other election-related purposes where such use would otherwise be prohibited.
Candidates and registered third parties continue to be unable to use photographs, videos, electronic images, or graphics produced by the County or its affiliates for any election campaign-related purpose. This includes copying, downloading, or otherwise reproducing content from County websites, publications, or other County-produced materials.
The exception to the above is County videos that have been made publicly available on the County’s official YouTube channel. Those videos may be used in accordance with YouTube’s Terms of Service.

Offices to be  elected

Mayor

One (1) to be elected by all voters of the municipality

Ward Councillors

View Norfolk County Ward maps.

One (1) to be elected for Ward 1
One (1) to be elected for Ward 2
One (1) to be elected for Ward 3
One (1) to be elected for Ward 4
Two (2) to be elected for Ward 5
One (1) to be elected for Ward 6
One (1) to be elected for Ward 7

School Board Trustees

The number of trustees for each of the following school boards will be determined in the spring of 2026:

Two (2) to be elected for Grand Erie District School Board (less Ward 3 & 7)
- To be elected by English-Public School electors in Norfolk County. Norfolk County is responsible for the acceptance of nominations, except in Wards 3 & 7, where nominations are the responsibility of Brant County.
Two (2) to be elected for Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board
- To be elected by English-Separate School electors to represent the Counties of Brant, Haldimand, and Norfolk. Norfolk County is responsible for the acceptance of nominations.
One (1) to be elected for Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir School Board
- To be elected by French-Separate School electors to represent the Regions of Waterloo-Brant-Haldimand-Norfolk. The City of Kitchener is responsible for conducting the election for this position. However, the Clerk (or their designate) of Norfolk County has been delegated authority to accept nominations and forward them to the City of Kitchener.
One (1) to be elected for CS Viamonde | Écoles publiques francophones en Ontario | Éducation en langue française de qualité en Ontario
- To be elected by French-Public School electors to represent the Counties of Oxford, Elgin, Lambton, Haldimand and Norfolk and the Municipality of Chatham-Kent. The Clerk of the City of Sarnia is responsible for conducting the election for this position. However, the Clerk (or their designate) of Norfolk County has been delegated authority to accept nominations and forward them to the City of Sarnia.

Third party advertisers

Third party advertising includes messages transmitted in any broadcast, print, electronic, or other medium that are:

promoting, supporting or opposing a candidate
promoting or supporting "yes" or "no" answer to a question on the ballot

Third party advertising does not include an advertisement:

made by or under the direction of a candidate
for which no expense is incurred
transmitted by an individual to their employees, by a corporation to its shareholders, directors, members or employees, or by a trade union to its members or employees

Register as a third party advertiser

Only the following can register to be a third party advertiser:

An individual who is normally a resident in Ontario
A corporation that carries on business in Ontario
A trade union that holds bargaining rights for employees in Ontario

To advertise during the 2026 Municipal Election, a third party advertiser must register with the Clerk’s Office. A third party advertiser must register with each municipality they wish to advertise in.

Third Party Advertisers guide (PDF)

Scrutineers

A candidate may appoint scrutineers to represent them at the voting locations to observe voting. One scrutineer per tabulated ballot box is permitted at each voting location. If the candidate is present at the voting location, one less scrutineer may be present at the same time.

Download the Scrutineer guide (PDF)