Interested in Running for Office?
Have you ever thought about getting more involved in your community?
The 2026 Municipal Election will include elected positions for Mayor, Councillors and Local Urban District (LUD) Members. Serving in local government is an opportunity to represent your community, contribute to important decisions and help shape the future of where you live.
Who Can Run?
To qualify as a Mayor, Councillor or LUD Member, you must:
- a Canadian citizen;
- 18 years old or older on Election Day, October 28, 2026;
- a resident of Manitoba;
- a qualified voter of the Municipality; and
- not subject to disqualification under the Municipal Act or any other Act.
Additional requirements may apply depending on the position. For complete eligibility requirements, please refer to the applicable Manitoba legislation and election information.
You May Want to Run If You...
Care about your community
Want to help make your community better
Want to serve and give back
Have ideas for the future of your community
Want to make a difference locally
Want to help set the direction and priorities for your community
Want to have a voice in decisions that affect your community
Ready to Get Involved?
Individuals considering running for Council are encouraged to review the 2026 Candidates Guidebook published by Manitoba Municipal Relations.
This guide provides important information about the nomination and election process.
Registration for Mayor candidates is open May 1st, 2026, through September 22, 2026.
Registration for Councillor and LUD member candidates is open June 30, 2026, through September 22, 2026.
Candidate registrations are accepted by the Senior Election Official (SEO) by appointment only. To obtain a Candidate Registration Form or to schedule an appointment, please contact the SEO, Nettie Lambert at 204-481-5824 or seo@rmtache.ca.
Notices
Candidate Nomination (Click here to view)
Notice of Voters List (Click here to view)
Notice of Registration – 2026 (Click here to view)
1. Eligibility
Persons eligible to be a candidate for Mayor/Councillor/LUD Member must meet all of the following criteria:
- a Canadian citizen;
- 18 years old or older on Election Day, October 28, 2026;
- a resident of Manitoba;
- a qualified voter of the Municipality; and
- not subject to disqualification under the Municipal Act or any other Act.
Becoming a candidate involves two important steps:
- Registration Process; and
- Nomination Process
2. Registration process
Candidates must register with the Senior Election Official before soliciting donations or incurring any campaign expenditures.
Through this process, a candidate becomes authorized to commence an election campaign. The candidate must identify the account utilized for all funds, and their official agent. Once registered, the candidate will receive nomination papers.
Candidates must complete a registration form and all applicable consent forms. Candidates must submit these, in-person, to the Senior Election Official.
Appointments are required and should be made in advance. Please contact seo@rmtache.ca or 204-481-5824 for additional information.
Registration for candidates for Mayor begins on Sunday, May 1, 2026 and ends Tuesday, September 22, 2026.
Registration for candidates for Councillor/LUD Member begins on Tuesday, June 30, 2026 and ends Tuesday, September 22, 2026.
3. Nomination process
Candidates must submit nomination papers that provide evidence of support from eligible voters.
Before filing nomination papers, candidates must have already filed their registration form. Nomination papers will be provided to prospective candidates at the time of registration.
All nomination papers must be filed in person with the Senior Election Official (SEO) during the nomination period:
Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. to Tuesday, September 22, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.
Appointments are recommended and should be made in advance. For more information, please contact seo@rmtache.ca or 204-471-5824.
The deadline to file nomination papers is 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 22, 2026.
Signatures Required
Mayor:
Nomination papers must include a minimum of 25 signatures from voters whose names appear on the voters list. Candidates must use the voters list provided to confirm that they have obtained the signatures of 25 eligible voters.
Councillor/LUD Member:
Nomination papers must be supported by at least 25 signatures of voters from the ward, or 1% of the voters of the ward, whichever is less.
Candidates must use the voters list provided to confirm that they have obtained the required signatures of eligible voters.
Nomination Forms Must Include
A statement by the candidate including their name, address, phone number, and the office for which they are seeking election.
A statement made under oath by the candidate confirming that they are qualified to be nominated and that, to the best of their knowledge, the information provided in the nomination paper is true.
All nomination papers will be available for public inspection. A list of nominated candidates will be available on this website.
4. Campaign Period
The campaign period is the time during which a registered candidate, or any person acting on their behalf, can accept contributions or incur campaign expenses.
The campaign period for candidates commences upon registration:
Mayor: May 1, 2026 – September 22, 2026
Councillor: June 30, 2026 – September 22, 2026
It is only during this period that candidates can solicit contributions and expend funds for the purposes of election.
The Guidebook for Municipal Candidates outlines the regulations for campaign financing and the requirement to file an Election Finance Statement.
Campaign Expenses and Contributions
The Campaign Expenses and Contributions By-law regulates campaign expenses and contributions to candidates, and includes limits on contribution amounts received and expenses incurred.