Information for Candidates

If you're interested in becoming a candidate in Richmond Hill's 2024 York Region District School Board Trustee (Wards 1, 2, and 4) By-election, please make an appointment with the Office of the City Clerk to file your nomination paper and review important documents and materials. The last day to file a nomination is Friday, May 31, 2024, between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The Municipal Elections Act, 1996, requires that a Candidate or the candidate’s agent file a nomination in person. To schedule a meeting, please contact the Elections Team at 905-771-5470 or candidates@richmondhill.ca.

Meetings are held at the Office of the City Clerk located at 225 East Beaver Creek Road in Richmond Hill, Monday to Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., and take 30 to 45 minutes. 

Registration Documents

To file a nomination, you must complete and provide the following:

• Nomination Paper - Form 1
• Declaration of Qualifications
• Current photo identification (e.g. driver's licence or other government-issued photo identification with a qualifying address and signature)
• Nomination filing fee of $100 payable by debit, credit, cash, certified cheque or money order to the City of Richmond Hill

• A person is qualified to be elected as a member of a district school board or school authority if the person is qualified to vote for members of that district school board or that school authority and is resident in its area of jurisdiction.
• A person who is qualified under subsection (1) to be elected as a member of a district school board or school authority is qualified to be elected as a member of that district school board or school authority for any geographic area in the district school board's or school authority's area of jurisdiction, regardless of which positions on that district school board or school authority the person may be qualified to vote for.
• A member of a district school board or school authority is eligible for re-election if otherwise qualified.

Canadian citizens aged 18 or older on or before Voting Day, who reside in the respective school board area of jurisdiction, and who are not prohibited from voting under any law on the day their nomination forms are filed are eligible to run for office.

The York Region District School Board's area of jurisdiction is all of York Region.  

Disqualified Candidates

The following people are disqualified from being elected as a School Board Trustee or from holding office on any school board:

• A Clerk, Treasurer, Deputy Clerk or Deputy Treasurer of any municipality within the area of jurisdiction of the school board except for those on unpaid leave of absence
• A member of the Provincial Legislature, the Federal House of Commons or Senate who has not resigned from their office by the close of nominations (proof of resignation must be provided by the close of nominations or the City Clerk cannot certify the nomination)
• A candidate who failed to file the required financial statement in the last municipal election. 

School Board Employees

York Region District School Board employees, including supply teachers, who wish to be a candidate for and/or be elected as a York Region District School Board Trustee must take an unpaid leave of absence to register as a candidate. School board employees must take leave before filing nomination forms and must provide the City Clerk with proof of the leave of absence.

More detail about the role and responsibilities of School Board Trustees can be found on York Region District School Board's website.

Please note that the City of Richmond Hill is responsible only for the election process of School Board Trustees and City staff are not able to provide detailed information about the role. Inquiries can be directed to the York Region District School Board staff or sitting Trustees.

Campaign Spending Limits

Preliminary spending limits are calculated early in the election period based on the number of Public English School voters on the previous election and recalculated closer to Voting Day when the corrected Voters’ List becomes available. The final spending limit is the greater of the two amounts - this means that the spending limit will never be less than the amount shown in the Preliminary Estimate, but the recalculations may result in spending limits being increased.

Candidates are subject to spending limits in accordance with the Municipal Elections Act, 1996.

View the Preliminary Estimate of Maximum Campaign Expenses for Candidates

View the Final Certificate of Maximum Campaign Expenses 

Campaign Period

The Campaign Period for candidates in the 2024 School Board By-election begins on the day they file a Nomination and ends on the earlier of the day on which they withdrew their nomination or August 29, 2024.

Candidates may not raise funds or incur expenditures beyond the end of the Campaign Period unless the candidate is continuing his or her campaign to erase a deficit. A candidate can only extend his or her campaign to erase a deficit by filling a Notice of Extension of Campaign Period - Form 6 with the City Clerk on or before the end of the Campaign Period (August 29, 2024).

Campaign Financial Statements

Candidates are required to file a Financial Statement – Form 4 for their campaign even if they did not spend any money and even if they withdrew their nomination.  All candidates are required to file a Financial Statement by 2:00 p.m. on October 1, 2024.

Candidates who file the optional Form 6 to extend their campaign to erase a deficit are also required to file a Supplementary Financial Statement (Form 4) by 2:00 p.m. on Monday, March 31, 2025

Candidates are responsible for complying with all applicable campaign finance rules under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996. City staff are not able to interpret rules or legislation for a candidate, so if you are unsure about any of your obligations you may wish to consult a legal professional and/or an accounting professional.

The following is a summary of some dates of key importance for candidates in the 2024 York Region District School Board Trustee By-Election. Candidates are reminded that they are responsible for ensuring that their own campaigns are compliant with the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 and any other legislation and should not rely solely on information provided by the City of Richmond Hill.

Note: This section is dedicated to Richmond Hill's 2024 York Region District School Board Trustee (Wards 1, 2 and 4) By-election. This information does not pertain to current or pending Federal and/or Provincial elections or any other Municipal or School Board election.

Voting Locations

Voters can attend any one of the 3 Voting Locations to vote by paper ballot or request a change to the Voters' List (such as adding their name or updating/correcting their information). The City will have one Voting Location per Ward for Wards 1, 2 and 4. You will need to bring your identification showing your name and qualifying address to one of the 3 Voting Locations. 

Voting in the 2024 School Board By-election will be conducted using paper ballots and vote tabulators available at any of the locations listed below. Anyone who has entered a queue to cast their vote at a Voting Location by 6 p.m. on the Advance Vote or 8 p.m. on Voting Day will be given the opportunity to vote.

Voting Locations Wards 1, 2 and 4

Ward 1 Voting Location:

• MacLeod's Landing P.S. - 195 Silver Maple Rd.
• Ward 1 Map

Ward 2 Voting Location:

• Richmond Hill High School - 201 Yorkland St.
• Ward 2 Map

Ward 4 Voting Location:

• O.M. MacKillop P.S. - 206 Lucas St.
• Ward 4 Map