Prince Edward Island · Municipality of Borden-Carleton

How to run for Council in Borden-Carleton

A plain-English guide to the 2026 cycle — eligibility, deadlines, paperwork, and key local contacts for councillor candidates in Borden-Carleton, Prince Edward Island.

Election day: Monday, November 2, 2026
Population (2021)
788
Council seats
6 seats
Term
4 years
Wards
None

Step 1

Are you eligible?

On the day you file your nomination paper for councillor in Borden-Carleton, you must be:

  • A Canadian citizen.
  • At least 18 years old.
  • A resident of Borden-Carleton, OR a non-resident owner or tenant of land in Borden-Carleton (or the spouse of one).
  • Not legally disqualified from running.
Common disqualifications include sitting judges, sitting MPs / Senators / MPPs (must resign before filing), municipal employees (must take an unpaid leave or resign), and people serving a sentence in a penal institution.

Step 2

What does the councillor do?

Councillors in Borden-Carleton vote on by-laws, the annual budget, and local services like parks, transit, and zoning. They are the most direct point of contact between residents and city hall.

RoleSeatsTermNotes
Councillor64 yearsAt-large. The Mayor appoints one councillor as Deputy Mayor (per the Borden-Carleton bylaw — note this is "at the discretion of the Mayor," unlike most PEI munis where council selects).

Step 3

The nomination process

Filing happens at the municipal CAO / Returning Officer, in person during regular office hours and on nomination day until 2:00 PM. You'll need to bring:

  • Nomination paper, signed in the presence of the clerk or a commissioner of oaths.
  • 5 nominators (some bylaws raise to 10) from eligible electors of Borden-Carleton.
  • Government-issued photo ID showing your name and qualifying address.
  • Filing fee: None at the provincial level. Charlottetown sets its own deposit by bylaw.

Where to file

Town of Borden-Carleton Town Office, Borden-Carleton, PE C0B 1X0. Phone (902) 437-2225, fax (902) 437-2610. Office hours 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM. CAO/Town Clerk acts as Municipal Electoral Officer.

Step 4

Key dates — 2026 cycle

DateEvent
November 2, 2026Election day
November 22, 2026New term of council begins

Step 5

Campaign finance

PEI has no province-wide campaign-finance regulation. Charlottetown has a $1,575 contribution cap; most other municipalities have none.

Local

Specific to Borden-Carleton

  • Borden-Carleton hosts the PEI end of the Confederation Bridge — economy heavily tied to bridge tolls, the Gateway Village commercial area, and tourist traffic. Council issues frequently involve provincial/federal infrastructure stakeholders.
  • Unusual bylaw quirk: The Mayor *appoints* the Deputy Mayor (not council vote) — verify this in current procedural bylaw before assuming standard PEI practice.
  • Recent council friction with provincial MLA over a proposed gas station development (2026) — recurring planning-vs-Province dynamic.
  • Town has its own sign bylaw.

Ballot

Other roles on the same ballot

Voters in Borden-Carleton also choose:

  • Mayor — At-large.

Sources

Official resources

Related guides

Also running in Borden-Carleton?

Considering a different office? We have plain-English guides for every position on the Borden-Carleton ballot:

This page is a plain-English summary, not legal advice. Always confirm details with the municipal CAO / Returning Officer and the most recent provincial candidate guide before filing. Last reviewed 2026-05-01.

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