Information for Candidates

Section 33(1.4) of the Municipal Act, stated that Subsection (1.1) does not apply to a nomination in a municipality in which the number of electors who were eligible to vote in the previous regular election in the municipality is less than the prescribed number (4,000).  In the 2018 municipal election, there were 3,129 eligible electors.

The Municipal Act specifies who can and cannot run for municipal Council. The following individuals are:

• any person who is not eligible to vote in the municipality
• an employee of a municipality who has not taken an unpaid leave of absence and resigned
• a judge of any court
• an MP, an MPP or a senator
• an inmate service a sentence in a penal or correctional institution

The Town of Prescott’s Sign & Display By-Law 16-2019 speaks to where and when election signs can be displayed:

ELECTION SIGNS

6.21.1 Election Signs on Private Property: No election sign is to be placed within 0.5 meter (1.64’) of a sidewalk, or where there is no sidewalk, within 2.0 meter (6.56’) of the roadway, provided that the sign is not place more than sixty (60) days immediately preceding the election date.

6.21.2 Election Signs on Public Property:

1. a) No person or entity shall place or cause to be place or allow to remain placed an election sign on a highway other than on an inner boulevard, provided that the sign is not placed more than thirty (30) days immediately preceding the election date.
2. b) No election sign is to be placed within 0.5 meter (1.64’) of a sidewalk, or where there is no sidewalk, within 2.0 meter (6.56’) of the roadway.
3. c) No election signs are to be placed on public property which fronts an institutional use such that it could give the impression that support has been provided without the written consent of the institution.
4. d) Every election sign together with its appurtenances shall be removed from the premise within forty-eight (48) hours following the election date.

Sections 88.4(1), 88.31 and 88.32 of the Municipal Elections Act speak to campaign surplus.

If a candidate’s financial statement indicates an election campaign surplus at the end of the campaign period, the entire surplus amount shall be paid to the clerk at the time of filing and the clerk shall hold the monies in trust.

If a candidate has a surplus and they or their spouse has made contributions to the campaign, the candidate may (after the campaign period ends but before filing the financial statement) refund themselves or their spouse as long as the amount does not exceed the less of the contributions made or the surplus.

Following any refunds, the clerk will hold the monies in trust until after the compliance audit period has ended (approximately July 2023). Once the audit period has been completed, the surplus amount will become the property of the municipality.

Section 88.22(1)(a) of the MEA provides that “A candidate shall ensure that, no contributions of money are accepted or expenses incurred unless one or more campaign accounts are first opened at a financial institution exclusively for the purposes of the election campaign”.

For the 2022 Municipal Election, election signs can be displayed on private property as of August 25 and on public property September 24.

A credit card can be used to pay campaign expenses, but you need to make sure that the expense on the credit card is paid for out of your election bank account.