Running for Office

To be eligible to run as a candidate, you must meet the following criteria at the time of your nomination:

• be 18 years or older on General Voting Day (October 17, 2026)
• be a Canadian citizen
• be a resident of BC for at least six months prior to the date of nomination
• not be disqualified by any act or law from voting in British Columbia, or from being nominated for, elected to or holding the office, or be otherwise disqualified by law.

Other important information for candidates:

• You do not need to be a Port Moody resident to be a candidate.
• If you currently work for the City of Port Moody or School District No. 43 (Coquitlam), you must take a leave of absence before being nominated.
• Federal employees must apply to the Public Service Commission for permission to run.
• At least two qualified City of Port Moody electors (who are on the provincial list of electors for the City of Port Moody at the time of the nomination) must nominate you per the Local Government Act.

All candidates have expense limits that apply during the campaign period. These limits apply to the 2026 General Local Elections (and all subsequent by-elections) for the City of Port Moody and SD43 Trustee Election Area 2 (Port Moody).

Please visit the Elections BC website for comprehensive information on elector organizations.

Each candidate will require a minimum of two qualified nominators. A “qualified nominator” must be a Port Moody elector on the provincial list at the time of nomination. To be certain, candidates are encouraged to seek more than the minimum number of nominators. If a nominator is unsure if they are qualified, they can reach out to the Election Office directly by phone or email to confirm their qualifications. For privacy reasons, candidates should not contact the Election Office on behalf of their nominators.