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Running for Office in Alberta

Getting Started

Eligibility

A person is eligible to be an Alberta provincial candidate if they are:

• A Canadian citizen (on the date of the filing of their nomination).
• 18 years of age or older (on or before the polling day).
• An Alberta resident (at least 6 months prior to the polling day).
• Not disqualified by the Elections Act or the Senatorial Selection Act.

Ineligibility

A person is ineligible to run in a provincial election for the following reasons.

• Are a member of the Senate or House of Commons of Canada
• Were expelled from the Legislative Assembly for a period less than eight years of their disqualification or expulsion
• Are a registered candidate or chief financial officer who failed to file a financial statement within the eight-year period following the day the Speaker laid a report noting the failure before the Legislative Assembly, or within five years of filing a statement with the Chief Electoral Officer

Nomination

To be nominated as a candidate, a person must:

• Have nomination papers signed by 25 or more electors of an electoral division
• Submit the nomination papers by 2:00 PM on the 14th day following the issuing of the writ for an election by the Lieutenant Governor
• A candidate can withdraw their nomination 48 hours prior to the opening of the polls on polling day (the candidate must file a written declaration with the returning officer)
• If the candidate is endorsed by a political party, he or she must submit a certificate from that party
• If the candidate is running wishes an “independent” designation to by included on the ballot, they must indicate as such

Deposit

When a candidate files their nomination papers they must also deposit $200 with the returning officer. The deposit must be refunded if:

• The candidate is elected
• The candidate obtained at least half of the number of votes received by the winning candidate
• The candidate withdraws their nomination within 48 hours of filing their nomination papers with the returning officer
• The candidate dies after filing their nomination papers and prior to the closing of the polls on polling day

If the deposit is not returned to the candidate, it is deposited to the General Revenue Fund.

Campaign Finances

Contributions

A contribution is understood to be any money or personal property provided by any person, corporation, trade union, or employee organization to a party, constituency association, or candidate.

• Party membership fees, or fees of a constituency association, are not considered contributions as long as they do not exceed $40 annually paid
• Any contribution of more than 15¢ per month by a trade union member or employee organization through payroll deductions, will be considered contributions
• Prohibited corporations, or persons who normally reside outside Alberta , or trade unions and employee organizations that do not hold bargaining rights for employees in Alberta cannot make contributions to a registered party, constituency association, or candidate
• Contributions by a candidate to his or her own campaign are considered contributions

Any anonymous contributions in excess of $50 to a registered political party, constituency association, or candidate must be returned to the contributor or paid to the Chief Electoral Officer if the contributor’s identity cannot be established.

Contribution Limits

Election to the Provincial Legislature

During elections, contributions by any person, corporation, trade union, or employee organization must not exceed:

• $30,000 to each registered party
• $1,500 to any registered candidate
• $7,500 in the aggregate to the registered candidates of each registered party

Senatorial Selection Act

During an election, contributions by any person, corporation, trade union, or employee organization cannot exceed:

• $30,000 to a registered party (multiplied by the number of persons to be elected for which there is a candidate from the party, less any amount contributed to the party in that calendar year)
• $30,000 to a registered candidate (less any amount contributed to the candidate’s registered party in that calendar year if the candidate was nominated by a registered party and endorsed as such)

Disclosure of Contributions and Expenses

Within four months of the polling day, the candidate must file a financial statement with the Chief Electoral Officer. The statement must include:

• Total campaign income, transfers, and expenses
• Expenses paid on behalf of the candidate by a registered party or constituency association
• Details of all contributions received (for contributions above $375, the candidate must provide the contributors name, address, and date of contribution)
• Details of fundraising events

Further Information

The Chief Electoral Officer of Alberta
The Elections Act for Alberta
The Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act
The Electoral Boundaries Commission Act
The Electoral Divisions Act