Nova Scotia · Municipality of Municipality of the District of Chester

How to run for Council in Municipality of the District of Chester

A plain-English guide to the 2028 cycle — eligibility, deadlines, paperwork, and key local contacts for councillor candidates in Municipality of the District of Chester, Nova Scotia.

Election day: Saturday, October 21, 2028
Population (2021)
10,693
Council seats
7 seats
Term
4 years
Wards
7

Step 1

Are you eligible?

On the day you file your nomination paper for councillor in Municipality of the District of Chester, you must be:

  • A Canadian citizen.
  • At least 18 years old.
  • A resident of Municipality of the District of Chester, OR a non-resident owner or tenant of land in Municipality of the District of Chester (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 Municipality of the District of Chester 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
Councillor74 yearsOne per district. Warden and Deputy Warden chosen at the first council meeting.

Step 3

The nomination process

Filing happens at the municipal 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 from eligible electors of Municipality of the District of Chester.
  • Government-issued photo ID showing your name and qualifying address.
  • Filing fee: $200 (refundable on financial disclosure).

Where to file

Municipality of the District of Chester, 151 King Street, Chester, NS B0J 1J0. Nominations filed in person with the Municipal Clerk.

Step 4

Key dates — 2028 cycle

DateEvent
Aug 29Nomination period opens
Sep 12Nomination period closes (last day to file)
October 21, 2028Election day
November 10, 2028New term of council begins

Step 5

Campaign finance

Outside of Halifax Regional Municipality (which has By-law C-1100), Nova Scotia has no campaign-finance caps. Only contributions over $50 must be disclosed via Form 41.

Local

Specific to Municipality of the District of Chester

  • Village of Chester: the Village of Chester (the picturesque seaside hamlet) is a separate Village Commission within the Municipality, with its own elected commissioners on a different cycle.
  • Tourism / cottage country: seasonal residents create elector-list complexity ("ordinary residence" rules apply — see _common/NS.md).
  • Voting method 2024: electronic plus paper at advance polls.

Ballot

Other roles on the same ballot

Voters in Municipality of the District of Chester also choose:

  • Warden — **Not directly elected.**
  • Deputy Warden — Chosen by council.
  • CSAP trustee — French-language only.

Sources

Official resources

Related guides

Also running in Municipality of the District of Chester?

Considering a different office? We have plain-English guides for every position on the Municipality of the District of Chester ballot:

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

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