The P.E.I. Advisory Council on the Status of Women is disappointed more women are not running for election in three of the four largest municipalities on the Island.

Nominations closed on Friday for Charlottetown, Summerside, Stratford and Cornwall, confirming a shortage of women offering.

The imbalance is particularly bad in the two cities, where only three of 52 candidates are women. The two women running in Charlottetown are both in the same ward.

"Charlottetown and Summerside continue to be quite disappointing," said Jane Ledwell, executive director of the P.E.I. Advisory Council on the Status of Women.

"In our view it is always good for voters to have a choice of a lot of good candidates, and we firmly believe that half the good candidates who are available in any municipality, should be women. It's really a disappointment that voters won't have that option, and it suggests that there is a lot more needs to be done."

Ledwell noted the situation is more balanced in the two towns, especially in Cornwall. In Stratford three of nine people who put their names forward are women. In Cornwall there is an even split, with seven of 14 candidates being women.

Ledwell said major strides are being made in Cornwall when it comes to women stepping forward for municipal election.

Municipal elections will be held across P.E.I, on Nov. 3.