Thinking about running in the municipal election? Start here!

Where you are in the election process: Nomination period is about to open

Are you considering running for Mayor, District Councillor, or School Board Trustee in Kingston’s 2026 municipal election, or wondering whether it’s something worth exploring?

Kingston votes on October 26, 2026. This year’s ballot will include:

  • Municipal roles (Mayor and District Councillors), who make decisions about City services, policies, budgets, and long‑term planning

  • School board trustees, who focus on public education governance and setting direction and priorities for local school boards

If you want this information in your inbox, please use the Subscribe tool on this page (top right)! The goal is to help you understand the roles, expectations, and steps involved if you decide to move forward.

Public office is present in daily life more than many people realize. It shapes services like water, roads, transit, parks, recreation, emergency response, and, for Trustees, schools. These systems are influenced through local decisions.

You do not need political experience to run, and you don’t need to decide now! This is a starting point to understand what the roles involve and what comes next if you want to learn more.

In the weeks ahead, we will cover things like:

  • Whether you are eligible to run

  • What the work of Mayor and Council looks like

  • How decisions get made

  • What the nomination process involves

If you decide this is not for you, that is still a useful outcome. If you decide to explore further, you will know what you are stepping into. If you have any questions in the meantime, the Q&A tool is always open on this Get Involved page.

Candidate information sessions

For a guided tour of what running for office looks like, consider attending a candidate information session. Watch the video recording of the April 26 information session here.

  • Tuesday, May 26 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

  • Kingston Frontenac Public Library - Calvin Park Branch (88 Wright Cres.)

Learn more