This November 2nd, you’ll have an important opportunity to exercise a fundamental democratic right: the right to vote. It’s the second time this year you can choose your representatives following Canada’s federal elections last spring. But mayors and city councillors often affect our daily lives more than federally-elected officials. Here are some things to know about municipal elections and the role of municipalities.
Every municipality has a municipal council, made up of a mayor and several councillors.
The municipal council decides on the municipality’s policy directions and priorities to meet the needs of the community. Economic development, land use planning and taxation are examples of the municipal council’s important responsibilities.
A real impact on daily life
Municipal powers have a real impact on daily life. For example, municipal council decisions can affect:
- public transportation,
- bike paths,
- parks,
- road maintenance and snow removal,
- culture and recreation,
- parking,
- permitting (for example, construction or renovation permits),
- waste management,
- public security (like fire departments).
Who can vote
To vote, you must be 18 years old or older and have Canadian citizenship. You also must have been domiciled in Quebec for at least six months. In other words, your primary residence is in Quebec. Finally, you must either live in the municipality, or be the owner or co-owner of a building in the municipality for at least 45 days.
Who can run for election
Want to represent your community? Don’t wait! The deadline to file the form to declare your candidacy is October 3rd, 2025.
To run, you must meet some criteria, including these:
- be 18 years old or older,
- have Canadian citizenship,
- have never been convicted of a corrupt electoral practice,
- live in the municipality at the time you declare your candidacy.
Do you meet the eligibility criteria to run for office in the municipal elections? If so, you must declare your candidacy by filling out an official form, which you can get from the office of your municipality’s returning officer.
Keep in mind that, for your candidacy to be valid, you must collect the required number of supporting signatures from voters in your municipality. The amount depends on the office you’re seeking and how many people live in your municipality. You need five to 200 signatures to run for mayor and five to 25 signatures to run for councillor.
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To learn more, read the guide Running as a candidate for municipal elections. |