Nova Scotia · Municipality of Amherst

How to run for Mayor in Amherst

A plain-English guide to the 2028 cycle — eligibility, deadlines, paperwork, and key local contacts for mayor candidates in Amherst, Nova Scotia.

Election day: Saturday, October 21, 2028
Population (2021)
9,413
Head of council
1 Mayor
Term
4 years
Wards
at-large

Step 1

Are you eligible?

On the day you file your nomination paper for mayor in Amherst, you must be:

  • A Canadian citizen.
  • At least 18 years old.
  • A resident of Amherst, OR a non-resident owner or tenant of land in Amherst (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 mayor do?

The Mayor is the head of council in Amherst — chairs council meetings, is the public face of the city, and votes alongside councillors on by-laws, the annual budget, and major staffing decisions.

RoleSeatsTermNotes
Mayor14 yearsElected at-large.
Deputy Mayor1variesSelected by council from among councillors.

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 Amherst.
  • Government-issued photo ID showing your name and qualifying address.
  • Filing fee: $200 (refundable on financial disclosure).

Where to file

Town of Amherst, 98 East Victoria Street, Amherst, NS B4H 1X6. Nominations filed in person with the Town 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 Amherst

  • All-electronic 2024 voting: voting in 2024 was internet/telephone only — no paper ballots. Notable distinction; verify if this continues for 2028.
  • At-large council: with no wards, all council candidates campaign town-wide and need broad name recognition.
  • NB border: Amherst sits on the Nova Scotia / New Brunswick border at the head of the Cumberland Basin.

Ballot

Other roles on the same ballot

Voters in Amherst also choose:

  • Councillor — Elected at-large town-wide (no wards).
  • CSAP trustee — French-language only.

Sources

Official resources

Related guides

Also running in Amherst?

Considering a different office? We have plain-English guides for every position on the Amherst 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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