To register a candidate eligible voters within the electoral district must "nominate" the candidate with their signatures. One hundred signatures are required for federal elections. Only 25 are required for provincial elections in Ontario. It is wise get about 25% more than the required signatures in case some of them turn out to be invalid. Especially if you are close to the nomination deadline, it is essential that you are not rejected due to invalid signatures on your list.

Eligible voters are Canadian citizens at least 18 years of age. There was some question as to whether the signatures have to be eligible voters who ARE on the voters list (list of voters maintained by government elections agency). But in the 2003 Ontario election it was ruled that the nomination signatures must come from eligible voters who are resident in the riding even if they are not yet on the voters list.

Each page of nomination signatures has the Candidate's Name and Electoral district. Get as many sheets as the returning officer will give you so that you can get more people enlisted to help collect.

Collecting signatures requires salesmanship. If you're in a populated area and just select random residences it may be possible to get up to 6-10 signatures per hour. It depends on how many doors you knock on and how effectively you present your cause.

Typically people will be discouraged and frustrated by the slow process of collecting signatures, so encourage them to just make a goal of getting five an hour. Statistically if 1 in 8 people will sign, then make it your goal to knock on many doors as quickly as you can.

Bring some literature (flyers) so conscientious people who don't know about your candidate will have some basis to decide whether they're willing to nominate him.

Present yourself casually but be well-dressed, and smile in a friendly but not too friendly way. Be sensitive people's privacy and time. When ringing door bells don't wait too long between doors. Some people are simply not going to answer.

Here are some suggested lines to use at the door:

1. My name is Joe and I'm collecting nominations for John Doe, a candidate in the upcoming federal election. Would you be willing to support the process of democracy by helping put John Doe's name on the ballot? There's no obligation to vote, and you won't receive any phone calls. Your signature allows voters who support John Doe select him on the ballot on June 28th.

2. Are there any eligible voters for the upcoming election in your household? Would you be willing to help me nominate LibertyIsUsParty candidate John Doe. There's no obligation to vote for John Doe and nobody will call you. But your signature will help put John Doe's name on the ballot.

Are there any other voters here who might be willing to sign. [That's a very important follow-up question. Once one person signs, they often feel some cause to get their friends/family to join them in support of democracy.]

There may be questions like "Who is John Doe?" and "What does he stand for?" Be prepared with some short answers to these questions. Don't get bogged down in details unless they ask further. Mention things which are less controversial and are likely to have broad support. For example John Doe is a business man, a father of five, and a member of Third Baptist Church. John stands for defending traditional marriage, lower taxes, tougher penalties for hardened criminals.