Elections

To run for municipal office you must be nominated and qualify.

To be a qualified candidate you must be:

• a Canadian Citizen; and
• at least 18 years old; and
• reside in the Municipality of South Dundas or be the owner or tenant of land in South Dundas, or the spouse of an owner or tenant of land in South Dundas.

• A person who is serving a sentence of imprisonment in a penal or correctional institute.

• A corporation.

• A person acting as an executor or trustee or in any other representative capacity.

• A person who ceases to be a Canadian citizen.

• A person who is not a resident, the owner or tenant of land or the spouse of an owner or tenant of land in the municipality.

• An employee of the municipality or local board unless he or she takes an unpaid leave of absence beginning the day the employee is nominated and resigns if elected to the office.

• A person who is not an employee of the municipality but who is the Clerk, Treasurer, Integrity Commissioner, Auditor General, Ombudsman or registrar referred to in section 223.11 of the Municipal Act, 2001 or an investigator referred to in subsection 239.2 91 of the municipality, or a person who is not an employee of the municipality but who holds an administrative position of the municipality.

• A judge of any court; a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario or the Senate or House of Commons of Canada.

• A public servant within the meaning of the Public Service of Ontario Act, 2006.

• A federal employee within the meaning of the Public Service Employment Act.

• A person who is prohibited from voting in a municipal election according to the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 or the Municipal Act, 2001.

• A person who has violated financial requirements for filing financial information in the previous election.

• A person who has been convicted of a corrupt practice under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 or of an offence under the Criminal Code (Canada) in connection with an act or omission that relates to an election to which the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 applies.

*Despite the above disqualification, MPs, MPPs and Senators may be nominated for municipal office without having to resign their current seat in parliament. However by 2:00 p.m. on Nomination Day, MPs, MPPs and Senators will be required to resign their current seat should they wish to continue to seek municipal office. If you are a federal or provincial cabinet minister, you must step down from cabinet prior to filing your nomination and must resign your seat by the close of nominations.

Nominations must include:

• the prescribed Nomination Paper form
• the prescribed Declaration by at least 25 persons endorsing the nomination who are eligible to vote
• a Declaration of Qualifications
• a completed Consent to Release Personal Information
• the prescribed nomination filing fee:
  • $200 for Mayor
  • $100 for Deputy Mayor and Councillors

Candidates are requested to bring proof of identity and residence and the unsigned forms with them to the Municipal Office where they are to be signed in front of the Returning Officer and filed.

(Nomination Day), MPs, MPPs and Senators will be required to resign their current seat should they wish to continue to seek municipal office.  If you are a federal or provincial cabinet minister, you must step down from cabinet prior to filing your nomination and must resign your seat by the close of nominations.

• AMO – Lead Where You Live: A guide on running for municipal council
• MMAH – Candidates’ Guide for Ontario Municipal Council and School Board Elections
• MMAH – Ontario Municipal Councillor’s Guide
• Municipality of South Dundas – Control and/or Regulation of Signs By-law
• United Counties of SD&G – Election Signage Memo
• Province of Ontario – Sign Regulations
• Municipality of South Dundas – Use of Corporate Resources Policy
• Form – Financial Statement – Auditor’s Report

To file a notice of registration you must be eligible. To be an eligible person or entity you must be:

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

• A candidate whose nomination has been filed.
• A federal political party registered under the Canada Elections Act or any federal constituency association or registered candidate at a federal election endorsed by that party.
• A provincial political party, constituency association, registered candidate or leadership contestant registered under the Election Finances Act.
• The Crown in right of Canada or Ontario, a municipality or local board.

Notices for Registration must include:

• the prescribed Notice of Registration form;
• a Declaration of Qualifications;
• a Resolution from the Corporation or Trade Union that authorizes the person or agent to register on their behalf, if applicable.

Third Parties are requested to bring proof of identity and the unsigned forms with them to the Municipal Office where they are to be signed in front of the Returning Officer and filed.

• Third Party Advertiser - Introductory Letter
• Form - Notice for Registration
• Form - Declaration of Qualifications (Third Party Advertiser)
• Form – Consent to Release Information
• Form – Broadcaster/Publisher Information Sheet
• Form – Financial Statement – Auditor’s Report
• MMAH – Third Party Advertisers Guide for Ontario Municipal Elections

You can vote in South Dundas’ municipal election if you are:

• a Canadian Citizen; and
• at least 18 years old; and
• a resident in the Municipality of South Dundas; or
• a non-resident of South Dundas but you or your spouse own or rent property in the Municipality; and
• are not prohibited from voting under any law.

You may only vote once in the South Dundas municipal election regardless of how many properties you own or rent in the Municipality.

An owner or tenant of non-residential property, or his or her spouse, is not eligible to vote for School Board Trustee.

There is a special rule for students who may be living away from home while they attend school. If you are a student and consider your "home" to be the place where you live when you are not attending school, which means you plan on returning there, then you are eligible to vote in both your "home" municipality and in the municipality where you currently live while attending school.

You cannot vote on voting day if you are:

• a person serving a sentence of imprisonment in a penal or correctional institution; or
• a corporation; or
• a person acting as executor or trustee or in any other representative capacity; or
• a person convicted of a corrupt practice for an election held within four years of voting day.

In order to vote in a school board election you must be 18 years of age or older, and a Canadian citizen. If you are a resident of the Municipality, you are eligible to vote for school board trustees. If you are the owner or tenant (or spouse of an owner of tenant) of residential property in the Municipality, you are eligible to vote for school trustees. You are only allowed to vote for the same school board once.

If you are eligible to vote in a municipality because you are the owner or tenant (or spouse of an owner or tenant) of a commercial property there, you are not eligible to vote for a school trustee. 

There are four different kinds of school boards in Ontario:

English language public school board

This is the default - unless you are qualified to vote for a separate or French board, you will vote for the English public school board in your area. 

English language separate school board

You must be Roman Catholic, and you must be a separate school board supporter or the spouse of a separate school board supporter. If your spouse is a Roman Catholic and you are not, you are not eligible.

French language public school board

You must be a French language rights holder, and you must be a supporter (or the spouse of a supporter) of the French language public school board.

French language separate school board

You must be a Roman Catholic and a French language rights holder, and you must be a supporter (or the spouse of a supporter) of the French separate school board. If your spouse is a Roman Catholic and you are not, you are not eligible. 

"Supporter" refers to which school board the school portion of your property taxes goes to. The default is the public school system. In order to be a separate school supporter you must direct your taxes to the separate school system. Contact the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (1-866-296-6722) for more information. 

The Municipality maintains the Voter’s List that is used for the municipal election that happens every four years. In order to receive voting information and to be able to vote you must be on the Voter’s List. Since there are eligibility requirements to be able to vote, the Municipality cannot add someone to the list without them declaring that they meet those requirements. Which are:

A person is entitled to vote in the Municipal Election if on Voting Day he or she,

• resides in the local municipality, or is the owner or tenant of land in the local municipality, or the spouse of such owner or tenant;
• is a Canadian citizen;
• is at least 18 years old; and
• is not prohibited from voting under subsection 17(3) of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 or otherwise, by law. 

Residents can confirm their voter status on the Voter Lookup website.

If you are not on the Voter’s List but are eligible to vote in 2022, please fill out, sign and return the EL15 form and provide a photocopy of your driver’s licence. One form for every eligible voter must be submitted. 

An elector who is entitled to vote in an election and believes on reasonable grounds that a candidate or a registered third party who is registered in relation to the election in the municipality has contravened a provision of the Act relating to election campaign finances may apply for a compliance audit of the candidate's or registered third party's election campaign finances, even if the candidate or registered third party has not filed a financial statement.

Municipalities must appoint a Committee by October 1 of an election year and the appointment is for the term of the new Council. 

• Joint Compliance Audit Committee - Role
• Joint Compliance Audit Committee - Membership Application Form