Newfoundland and Labrador · City of St. John's

How to run for Mayor in St. John's

A plain-English guide to the 2029 cycle — eligibility, deadlines, paperwork, and key local contacts for mayor candidates in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.

Election day: Tuesday, September 25, 2029
Population (2021)
110,525
Head of council
1 Mayor
Term
4 years
Wards
5

Step 1

Are you eligible?

On the day you file your nomination paper for mayor in St. John's, you must be:

  • A Canadian citizen.
  • At least 18 years old.
  • A resident of St. John's, OR a non-resident owner or tenant of land in St. John's (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 St. John's — chairs council meetings, is the public face of the city, and votes alongside councillors on by-laws, the annual budget, and major staffing decisions.

N/A — NL has no county/regional council layer. St. John's belongs to the Northeast Avalon region but participates only voluntarily through the City Region of St. John's planning council.

RoleSeatsTermNotes
Mayor14 yrsAt-large, directly elected.
Deputy Mayor14 yrsAt-large, directly elected (separate ballot from Mayor). Unusual nationally — most cities appoint deputies from council.

Step 3

The nomination process

Filing happens at the town 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.
  • 2 nominators (a proposer and a seconder) from eligible electors of St. John's.
  • Government-issued photo ID showing your name and qualifying address.
  • Filing fee: $50 (cities) or $10 (towns).

Where to file

Access St. John's, City Hall, 10 New Gower Street. By appointment only — book through `[email protected]` or 709-576-3158.

Step 4

Key dates — 2029 cycle

DateEvent
September 25, 2029Election day
October 15, 2029New term of council begins

Step 5

Campaign finance

NL has minimal province-wide campaign-finance regulation: only contributions over $100 must be disclosed, and defeated candidates do not file. St. John’s has its own stricter Election Finance By-Law.

Local

Specific to St. John's

  • Sign by-law: Election signs may go up no sooner than the start of the nomination period (~28 days before the vote) and must be removed within 72 hours after polls close. No signs on city-owned property except at designated locations. No campaigning within 30 metres of a polling-station entrance.
  • Mail-in voting: Available by application to all eligible electors. Use of mail ballots was disrupted in 2025 by the national Canada Post strike — a primary cause of the city's one-week election postponement to October 8. Expect process changes for 2029.
  • Capital-city dynamics: Mayoral and at-large races routinely attract current/former MHAs and federal candidates. Media coverage is province-wide (CBC NL, NTV, VOCM, *The Telegram*).
  • Proxy voting: Not available. Voters must use a polling station or a mail-in ballot.
  • Online / telephone voting: Not authorized in NL.

Ballot

Other roles on the same ballot

Voters in St. John's also choose:

  • Ward Councillor — One per ward (Wards 1–5). Must be resident in the ward at close of nominations.
  • At-Large Councillor — Voters pick up to 4 from a city-wide field.

Sources

Official resources

Related guides

Also running in St. John's?

Considering a different office? We have plain-English guides for every position on the St. John's ballot:

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

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