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Registering a Party in Nova Scotia

Elections Act

• The Nova Scotia Elections Act provides for registration and recognition of provincial political parties, and other election related regulations.
• The Elections Act refers to “registered” and “recognized” political parties. The terms are not always interchangeable. Please refer to Elections Nova Scotia for more information on how this may affect your political party.
• For more detailed information, please refer to the Nova Scotia Elections Act

Definition of a Political Party

A group of individuals comprising an organization that has as its primary purpose the fielding of candidates for election as members.

Benefits of Registration

• Issue income tax receipts to contributors (contributors can then claim their contributions on their income tax returns)
• During an election, no person other than the official agent of a candidate or of a recognized party may incur or authorize election expenses.
• Place the party’s name on an election ballot.

Obligations of Registration

• Inform the Chief Electoral Officer of any administrative changes (i.e. party name, leader, official officers, address, etc.)
• A recognized party shall file an annual statement in prescribed form that confirms the information the party’s administrative information.
• No later than ten days after an election is called, every recognized political party shall file with the Chief Electoral Officer a statement in writing, signed by the leader, confirming or bringing up to date the information on record with the Chief Electoral Officer.
• Recognized parties must disclose contributions it has received.
• Submit various financial statements to the Chief Electoral Officer (please refer to the Elections Act or Elections Nova Scotia for more information)
• Nominate at least 10 candidates in any general election

Qualifications for Registration

Submit to the Chief Electoral Officer a complete and accurate petition in prescribed form signed by no fewer than twenty-five electors in each of ten different electoral districts, requesting recognition of the party.

Applying for Registration

• An application pursuant to subsection (1) shall be signed by the leader and shall set out
  • The full name of the party
  • The party name or the abbreviation, if any, of the party name to be shown in any election documents or official materials;
  • The party logo, if any;
  • The name and address of the party leader;
  • The address to which communications intended for the party may be addressed and where its books, records and accounts, including those pertaining to contributions to and expenditures by the party, are maintained;
  • The names and addresses of the officers of the party;
  • The name, address and telephone number of the party's official agent or agents;
  • The name, address and telephone number of the party's auditor;
  • The financial institution in which all contributions to the party are to be deposited, and the account number;
  • A written statement that its primary purpose is to field candidates for election as members; and
  • Any other information of an administrative nature required by the Chief Electoral Officer.
• The application for registration must be accompanied by a complete and accurate petition in prescribed form signed by no fewer than twenty-five electors in each of ten different electoral districts, requesting recognition of the party.

Deregistration

Voluntary Deregistration

• The Chief Electoral Officer shall deregister a political party at the written request of that party’s leader.

Involuntary Deregistration

• The Chief Electoral Officer shall deregister and cease to recognize a party if:
  • The leader of the recognized party sends the Chief Electoral Officer a written notice stating that the party does not wish to remain registered
  • At the close of nominations at a general election, the party endorses fewer than ten candidates, or
  • The registered party fails to comply with relevant sections of the Elections Act or the Members and Public Employees Disclosure Act.

Additional Information

Restrictions on Party Names

• The Chief Electoral Officer must refuse to authorize a party if:
  • The name, abbreviation or logo so closely resembles the name, abbreviation or logo of another recognized political party that it is likely to be confused with the other recognized political party, or
  • The name, abbreviation or logo of the political party includes the word "independent" or an abbreviation of that word.

Public Access to Registration Information

· Once a party is registered, all information contained in its registration application and annual financial reports are available to the public.

Contact Information

Address:

Elections Nova Soctia
PO Box 2246
Halifax, NS.
B3J 3C8

Telephone:

1-902-424-8584 or 1-800-565-1504 (toll free in Nova Scotia)

Fax:

1-902-424-6622

Email:

elections@gov.ns.ca