Elections

The next municipal and school board election will be held on Monday, October 26, 2026. The last election was held on Monday, October 24, 2022. Elections are held every four years.

 

Reporting campaign concerns or complaints

Municipal elections in Ontario, including the City of Niagara Falls’, are governed by the provincial Municipal Elections Act, 1996 (MEA) which provides rules for the administration of elections. The MEA expressly states that the City Clerk, and by extension the Clerks Office, is responsible for the preparation and conduct of municipal elections. As such, the Clerks Office staff are not in a position to interpret the legislation, provide advice to candidates or third party advertisers, nor investigate or review any campaign related matters.

Enforcement of candidate or third party advertising campaign matters and the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 is done through the courts and/or the Election Compliance Audit Committee (ECAC) as the case may be. 

The ECAC is a statutory body responsible for reviewing and making decisions on applications for municipal election campaign finance compliance audits, and on reports from the City Clerk regarding apparent contraventions of contribution limits prescribed by the MEA resulting from the regular municipal election or any by-election held during the term of office for the City Council for which the Committee was appointed. 

For more information on ECAC, visit the Compliance Audit Committee page. For more information about enforcement through the courts, please see page 13 of the voters' guide. 

Questions, assistance and accessibility

We are happy to help with any questions about the municipal election. Please let us know if you have comments or concerns about the election process, forms, voting methods, polling locations, the voters' list, or other matters. We welcome feedback on areas where we can make changes and improve how we conduct an accessible election. If you need information in a different format, just let us know.

Frequently asked questions

Election day is Monday, October 26, 2026, 10:00 am to 8:00 pm.

You are voting for the following:

Members of City Council

  • Mayor: One (1) to be elected, at large within the City of Niagara Falls, also serves as a member of Regional Council
  • City Councillors: Eight (8) to be elected at large within the City of Niagara Falls

School Board Trustees

  • English Language Public School Board: Two (2) to be elected at large
  • English Language Catholic School Board: Two (2) to be elected at large
  • French Language Public School Board: One (1) to be elected at large
  • French Language Catholic School Board: One (1) to be elected at large 

You are eligible to vote on Election Day if you meet all the following requirements:

  • You are a Canadian citizen
  • You are aged 18 or older
  • Either a resident of the municipality, a property owner or tenant or the spouse or same sex partner of an owner or tenant in the municipality during a specified time just before the election
  • You are a student who is living away from home while attending school, but will be returning to live here

For more information, please visit the Government of Ontario website.

You can check if you are on the voters list using the Elections Ontario Register to Vote application.

To run for Mayor or City Councillor, a candidate must:

  • Be a Canadian Citizen and at least 18 years of age on the day you file your nomination 
  • Be a resident of the municipality or a non-resident owner or tenant of land in the municipality, or the spouse or same-sex partner of an owner or tenant of land in the municipality 
  • Not be disqualified by any legislation from holding municipal office
  • Provide 25 signatures from eligible voters endorsing the nomination upon registration as a candidate
  • Pay the required nomination fee

To run as a Trustee for a local school board, a candidate must:

  • Be a Canadian Citizen and at least 18 years of age on the day you file your nomination 
  • Be eligible to be an elector of that school board for which the person is a candidate 
  • Not be disqualified by any legislation from holding municipal office
  • Pay the required nomination fee

Learn more on the For Candidates page.

Prospective candidates in the 2026 Municipal Elections must first be nominated before raising any campaign funds or incurring expenses.

Nomination papers must be filed with the City Clerk, or his designate, during regular office hours (8:30 am to 4:00 pm) between Monday, May 1, 2026, and Friday, August 21, 2026, by 2:00 pm. Note: An individual can only run for one office at a time.

Before visiting City Hall, we ask all prospective candidates to please make an appointment with the Clerk’s Department by calling: 905-356-7521 ext. 4278.

Learn more on the For Candidates page.

You can vote in one of the following ways: 

  • City Hall: Visit City Hall to vote from Monday, September 28, 2026, to Friday, October 23, 2026, weekdays, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. On Election Day, you can vote at City Hall from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm.
  • Advanced Polls: Attend any of the advance polls held before Election Day. Dates, times, and locations are provided by the City closer to the election. Any qualified elector can vote at any one of the advance polls. You don’t have to wait until election day to cast your vote!
  • Election Day: Go to your assigned voting location on Election Day from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm

Learn more on the For Voters page.

Applications for election worker positions opened on July 20, 2026.

For more details visit: Election Employment

Resources

Contact Us

City of Niagara Falls
4310 Queen Street
P.O. Box 1023
Niagara Falls, ON L2E 6X5
Canada
905-356-7521
clerk@niagarafalls.ca