City of Niagara Falls prepares for fall election
Nomination period for municipal candidates opens Monday
The nomination window for people wanting to run in the Oct. 24 municipal election opens Monday.
And if history is any indication, it could be a crowded field in Niagara Falls by the time nominations close Aug. 19 at 2 p.m.
“In other election years, it’s usually quite busy at the start when nominations open, it tends to then trickle off, and, of course, as we get closer to nomination day, it tends to ramp up again,” said city clerk Bill Matson.
He said because Niagara Falls elects councillors at-large rather than using a ward system, the “field can look quite large.”
“Typically, it’s somewhere around 28 to 34 candidates for those eight (council) seats. That’s potentially what we’re planning for again. But there’s no limit. If 12 people want to put their names forward or if 50 people want to put their names forward, we’ll be prepared for however many.”
In addition to the mayor and eight councillors, voters will be electing three Niagara Region councillors to represent Niagara Falls, plus school board trustees.
Matson said he and his staff in the Niagara Falls clerks department are preparing packages that will be given to nominated candidates.
“Of course, the first one is the nomination form. The province now requires a second part to that nomination form where they are to gather 25 signatures of eligible electors to endorse their nomination,” he said.
“Also, in the package we would put together, the province has a candidates guide that we print off copies. We are required to let the candidates know what their campaign expense spending limits are, so that is included in their package. We’ll give them copies of the municipal election sign bylaw.”
Matson said staff encourages anyone who wants to file a nomination to contact them ahead of time so that an appointment can be booked.
“We do spend about half an hour with each candidate as they’re filing their nomination to review that package and make sure that they understand all the requirements …
especially their financial responsibilities,” he said.
Matson said candidates cannot spend or raise money until they have filed their nomination papers.
He said once that’s complete, they can start campaigning, including sponsored social media and newspaper ads, brochures, billboards and going door-todoor.
The city’s election sign bylaw, however, prohibits candidates from putting out lawn signs until 45 days before election day.
Matson said as candidates “start to come in,” the city will update its website “usually within a day or two” as to who has filed their nominations.
He said staff will also use the website to promote advance polls, the new vote-by-mail option, and other election-related activities.
During a meeting in March, city council approved allowing voters to cast their ballots by mail in October’s municipal election, in addition to traditional in-person voting and advance polls with tabulators.
“We will certainly be putting out a bit of a marketing/media campaign to promote (the voteby-mail option),” said Matson.
“We will increase the number of advance polls in 2022 as well, so people will have many opportunities to go to a voting location that perhaps won’t be as crowded as it is on election day, if that would put their mind at ease.”
For more information, visit niagarafalls.ca/city-hall/elections/default.aspx.