People interested in running for elected office in Richmond Hill and Pembroke this year will officially declare their candidacy next week.

Qualifying for the municipal elections is set for Aug. 31 through Sept. 4, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day.

Two Richmond Hill City Council seats will be on the Nov. 3 ballot – the Post 3 seat currently held by John Fesperman and Post 4 seat held by Jan Bass. The city’s mayor and council members serve four-year staggered terms.

Candidates will need to qualify at Richmond Hill City Hall at 40 Richard Davis Drive. The qualifying fee for a city council seat is $150.

To be eligible to run in Richmond Hill, a candidate must be a registered voterand a resident of the city for at least two years as of the first Tuesday in November. Candidates must declare the seat for which they are running.

Whereas Richmond Hill has staggered terms, Pembroke elects its mayor and council members all in the same year.

Pembroke will have six races on this year’s ballot – for mayor, council member at-large and the District 1, 2, 3 and 4 council seats.

Qualifying will be conducted at Pembroke City Hall at 160 N. Main St. Pembroke’s qualifying fees are $144 for the mayor’s race and $72 for council seats.