Running for Office

Here are some frequently asked questions about the City of Hamilton elections.

Q. When are elections held?

Ordinary Municipal elections are held every three years for the election of the Mayor, three Aldermen and five Common Councillors.

Extraordinary Municipal Elections are held within two months of when a vacancy occurs in the office of Mayor, Alderman or Common Councillor to fill the specific vacancy.

Q. How can I find out when elections will be held?

• An election is started by the issuance of a Writ of Election by the Corporation Secretary in consultation with the Parliamentary Registrar, who appoints the Returning Officers. The Writ of Election sets out the Polling Station, Nomination Day, Advanced Polls Day, and Election Day.

• Notice of an election must be published by the Presiding Officer in two issues of the Official Gazette and at least one newspaper printed and circulating in Bermuda at least ten days prior to Nomination Day.

• The notice must state the date, place and time where nomination papers are to be delivered; where nomination papers may be obtained; and the date, place and time of the poll in the event of a contest.

• Information will also be posted on this website.

Q. Who is eligible to run for office?

To be eligible to run in an election for the office of Mayor, Alderman or Common Councillor, candidates must be listed in the Parliamentary Register for Bermuda.

Nomination of Candidates:

• Nomination papers are available from the Parliamentary Registry.

• In order to be a valid proposer and seconder, the proposer and seconder MUST be listed in the parliamentary register as resident in the municipal area of Hamilton. The proposer and seconder can only propose or second one candidate in a Municipal election.

• The nomination paper must be delivered to the Presiding Officer by the candidate, or by his proposer or seconder between the hours of 11:00am and 1.00pm on Nomination Day at City Hall.

• Two copies of the Nomination paper must be presented.

• The vacancy that the candidate is contesting must be indicated on their Nomination form, i.e. Mayor, Alderman and Common Councillor must be indicated.

• Each candidate must present a receipt showing that they have paid $250.00 to the Accountant General for their candidacy. Once verified, the receipt is returned to the Candidate.

Q. Who is eligible to vote?

Anyone who is listed in the parliamentary register as resident in the municipal area of Hamilton is entitled to vote in a municipal election for the Mayor, Aldermen and Common Councillors of the Corporation of Hamilton.

Q. What happens next?

• If the number of duly nominated candidate(s) doesn’t exceed the vacancy to be filled, the Presiding Officer will declare the candidate or candidates concerned to be elected and an official notice will be published confirming the election of the candidate(s).

• If the number of duly nominated candidate(s) exceeds the vacancy or vacancies to be filled, then a poll shall be taken on the date stated in the Notice of Election.

Q. What happens on election day?

• Elections are held at City Hall, normally seven days after Nomination Day.

• Polling takes place from 8:00 am to 8.00 pm.

• Sections 41-55 inclusive of the Parliamentary Election Act 1963 (repealed) and the Second Schedule to that Act apply to the taking of a poll for the purposes of the Municipalities Act 1923.

• After the completion of the poll and the counting of the ballots, the Presiding Officer will confirm which candidate(s) have been elected.

Code of Conduct and Register of Members' Interests

Once elected to office, each Member is required to sign the Code of Conduct and to submit a Register of Members' Interest.