What Are You Waiting For? Announcing Your Candidacy

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Probably one of the biggest differences between local municipal elections and provincial or federal elections is when you find out who is running. At the local level, candidates typically wait until the nomination period has ended and the official list of candidates is released.

Of course, some candidates jump the gun and announce well in advance of the election.

I do that.

But is there an advantage or disadvantage to “pre-campaigning” or holding off?

Well, let’s look at the pros and cons to see if we can come to some conclusion on this topic.

Announcing In Advance
Okay, I’ll use myself as an example here. I announced months before the October 17, 2026 Municipal Election that I would seek re-election to Princeton Town Council. Anyone who has asked me since January 1, 2026, I’ve confirmed that, yes, I am in.

I announced early in my last two election campaigns. But what does that do for me? Some advantages that I see in doing this:

First, it gets my name out there. Whether or not you know me, at least you will know my name come election day.

Second, it helps me to build momentum as election day approaches. Now you know I’m running; what am I going to do next?

Third, it opens doors to communication. People approach me almost daily now to ask questions or offer support.

Finally, it creates a connection. With time before the election, a bond can develop that becomes stronger over time.

The Downside To Announcing Early
Although I prefer to get out there and use the tools at my disposal to promote myself and my re-election plans, there are disadvantages to doing what I’m doing. Here’s a quick look at what they are:

Providing Too Much Info
Yes, it is possible that when you announce your candidacy early, you expose yourself to potential action from other candidates with the goal of derailing your campaign. This usually happens at the provincial or federal election levels. In local elections, you don’t get much of this, but it happens.

Voter Fatigue
This is a subtle but important one. Sometimes voters just get tired of seeing too much from a particular candidate. This results in scrolling past online posts and generally ignoring what that candidate has to say once the voter gets to the “I’ve had enough” stage.

Holding Off On The Announcement
To be fair, I must admit that there are some very good reasons to take your time and wait to announce your election/re-election plans once the nomination period concludes. Here are some pros for doing that:

Time To Build Your Campaign
Waiting allows you to see who some of the candidates are who have announced in advance they plan to run against you. This can be vital in the construction of your campaign.

The Element of Surprise
There’s ALWAYS that one candidate no one thought would ever step up. You know, the perfect person for the job who has never shown interest in the past. If you see a name listed as an official candidate at the close of nominations, that makes you say, Wow! That person chose to wait just for that reaction and will build a campaign around that.

The Downside To Waiting
As always, there are two sides to this, and as great as waiting to announce a candidacy may be, there are other considerations to keep in mind. Here’s a look at the negatives to holding off.

Who Are You, Again?
If you are a relative newcomer who has kept a low-profile in the community, you are (and I mean this respectfully) an unknown. Waiting for the nomination period to end to make your announcement will give you a very small window of opportunity to promote yourself. For example, nominations close on September 11, 2026. Advance Polling Day is October 7; Election Day is October 17, 2026.

Voter Fatigue
It happens here as well. With such a short period to campaign after nominations close, candidates are often faced with putting out high volumes of information about themselves to reach voters. Too much information can turn voters away.

Conclusion
I can’t say if there is a good or bad time to announce that you are seeking either election or re-election to Princeton Town Council. Each candidate has a plan and personal reasons for doing what they are doing. For me, I like to use the time leading up to an election to share with you various election-related topics, hoping to help you learn more about the process. I think that the more you know about elections in general, the easier it is for you to make an informed decision on Election Day.

I'm George Elliott
Advance Polling Day is October 7, 2026
Election Day is October 17, 2026 8AM-8PM at Princeton & District Community Skills Centre, 206 Vermilion Avenue, Princeton