The wait is over for those looking to throw their hats into the ring for this fall’s municipal elections. The nomination period opens today, Sept. 19, and runs until Oct. 3.

Those wishing to present as candidates must meet the following criteria on polling day (Nov. 2):

– Be 18 years of age 

– Be a Canadian citizen

– Have not lost election rights (convictions for certain elections offenses or being placed under tutorship can make one ineligible)

They must also be either living on the territory of the municipality they wish to run, and for at least six months in Quebec, or own or occupy a business on the territory of the municipality for at least 45 days on polling day. When filing your nomination paper, you must reside in the municipality.  

There are other situations where someone would be ineligible, such as if they work for the municipality (volunteer firefighters and other first responders are excepted). 

Filing nomination papers

A person may put their full birth name, or whatever nickname they choose on their nomination papers, and it will appear that way on the ballot. For example, Clarendon councillor Rick Younge went by Rickey Younge in the 2021 elections. 

The address listed must be in the municipality the candidate is running in, but it doesn’t have to be their primary residence. 

The potential candidate must take an oath and collect five supporting signatures of people residing within their municipality. For the candidates for warden of MRC Pontiac, 10 signatures are required. The person collecting the signatures must attest that they know the person, were present when they signed, and to the best of their knowledge, know that the signee is a resident of the correct jurisdiction.  

Once a nomination paper has been filed, it may not be modified for any reason. To make a change, a candidate must make a request to the returning officer that their initial paper be withdrawn and then submit a new paper with new signatures. This must be done before the nomination paper deadline. 

Accepted candidates must follow a number of regulations concerning the financing of election campaigns and the tracking of this financing, as well as rules around the placement of election signs, all of which can be found on the Elections Quebec website, or by contacting the returning officer in your municipality.

Snapshot of 2021 elections: more than half of seats went uncontested

Just over half of the 125 seats available in MRC Pontiac (73 or 58 per cent) were elected by acclamation (only one candidate ran). There were seven municipalities with mayors elected by acclamation, and 66 council seats that were filled the same way. 

Voters in the municipalities of Campbell’s Bay, Chichester and Waltham only got to select their pick for warden, as their entire councils were elected without opposition. The Municipality of Pontiac, in neighbouring MRC des Collines, had one councillor elected by acclamation.

In 2025, the number of seats available in MRC Pontiac will drop to 121, as the municipalities of Fort-Coulonge and Bryson opted to reduce their councils from six councillors to four, joining Rapides-des-Joachims (see our Dec. 11, 2024 edition).