Become a candidate

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Eligibility

To qualify as a candidate you must be:

A Canadian citizen

At least 18 years old

A resident in the City of Mississauga; or

A non-resident of Mississauga and you or your spouse owns or rents property in the City

You do not qualify to run as a candidate if you:

Are serving a sentence of imprisonment in a penal or correctional institution

Are a corporation

Are acting as executor or trustee or in any other representative capacity

Were convicted of the corrupt practice described in Municipal Elections Act, 1996, less than five years ago

Candidate information session

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing along with the City will hold an in-person candidate information session on:

  • Tuesday, March 24 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
    Mississauga City Hall – Council Chambers, 2nd Floor
    300 City Centre Drive

This information session is intended to provide prospective candidates with the information they need to understand the process and requirements to run in the 2026 Mississauga Municipal Election. The session is open to anyone interested in running for office or learning more about the upcoming election. The session will cover:

The session will be recorded and the video will be posted online once available.

No registration is required.

Workshops for potential candidates

Attend one of these free workshops run by the Associate of Municipalities of Ontario.

Gain insights and strategies to help get your name on the ballot.

  • April 8 from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Learn more and register for the Running for Municipal Office workshop.

All workshops are online and run from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Stream 1: For elected officials at the municipal level across Ontario who are considering re-election.

  • March 26
  • April 23
  • May 7

Stream 2: For community members considering a run for municipal office and first-time candidates.

  • March 10
  • April 7 and 28
  • May 19

Learn more and register for the Healthy Leadership Series.

All workshops are online and run from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Stream 1: For elected officials at the municipal level across Ontario who are considering re-election.

  • March 25 and 26
  • April 23
  • May 7

Stream 2: For community members considering a run for municipal office and first-time candidates.

  • March 4 and 10
  • April 1, 7 and 28
  • May 19

Learn more and register for the Stronger Leaders Series.

What to expect when running for office as a young person.

All sessions run from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

  • March 11
  • April 15

Learn more and register for the Youth Information Sessions.