The purpose of campaigning is to convince the electors of your ward that you are the best candidate for the position. Campaigns can include talking to people, putting up signs, handing out brochures, running ads in the newspapers and giving interviews to the media.
General Regulations
While the style of campaign is up to you there are few regulations that you need to be aware of:
- You may not reproduce a copy of the ballot that will be used in the election showing it to be marked for a particular candidate. (see Section 148 of the Local Authorities Elections Act)
- Campaigning at the voting station during election hours is not permitted. The only people allowed to be at the voting station are the RO, DROs, constables, candidates, official agents or scrutineers (who are authorized to attend) and the electors who are voting. This means that neither you nor your agent and campaign workers may display or circulate any type of literature or talk to any of the voters about the election. Campaigning at locations other than the Voting Stations on election day is permitted. (see also Section 152 of the Local Authorities Election Act)
- Bribery and exertion of undue influence are not permitted. This means you cannot give or promise money or another valuable consideration to anyone in return for a vote or for refraining from voting. You also may not threaten violence, injury or damage, or use intimidation to cause a person to vote or refrain from voting. (see Sections 116 & 117 of the Local Authorities Elections Act)
- Sections 148, 150, 152, 153, 155, 156, and 157 of the Local Authorities Election Act provide details about election offences and penalties. Many offences can result in fines and/or imprisonment. Please be sure to review these sections.
Please access the above link to information on election finances, including new requirements for 2021 on the disclosure of election finances.
Election Signs
Please contact your local municipality where you are looking to place signage to ensure compliance with the Alberta Government and local municipal by-laws.
Alberta Transportation - Recommended Practices for Highway Signs
Alberta Transportation - Guidelines for the Installation of Election Signs
Town of Stettler - Election Signs
Interference with Posted Documents
Section 153 of the Local Authorities Election Act
"A person who, without authorization, takes down, covers up, mutilates, defaces or alters any notice or other document required to be posted under this Act is guilty of an offence and liable:
(a) if the person is an officer, to a fine of not more than $1000, and
(b) in any other case, to a fine of not more than $200."
On Election Day - Signage
Section 152 of the Local Authorities Election Act
(1) Subject to subsection (2), a person who, on election day,
(a) displays inside or on the outside of a building used for a voting station, or
(b) distributes within a building used for a voting station, an advertisement, handbill, placard, poster, circular, pamphlet, newspaper or other paper except those posted by the deputy in accordance with this Act is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of not more than $500.
(2) When a voting station is located in a building containing a complex of interlocking offices, stores or other facilities, the prohibition in subsection (1) applies only to the store, office or facility comprising the area used as a voting station.
(3) The distribution by or on behalf of a candidate or the candidate's official agent or scrutineer of newspapers, pamphlets or other literature containing articles or reports on matters of public interest is not a contravention of this section.
(4) Where a person displays an advertisement, handbill, placard, poster, circular, pamphlet, newspaper or other paper contrary to subsection (1), the deputy may cause it to be removed, and neither the deputy nor any person acting under the deputy's instructions is liable for trespass or damages resulting from or caused by the removal.
On Election Day - Scrutineer
Section 69 of the Local Authorities Election Act
(1) If, at any time during voting hours, a person who is at least 18 years old presents to the presiding deputy a written notice, in a form acceptable to the returning officer,
(a) signed by a candidate, and
(b) stating that the person presenting the notice is to represent that candidate as the candidate's scrutineer at the voting station,
the person presenting the notice shall be recognized by the presiding deputy as the scrutineer of the candidate.
(1.1) A person who has, within the previous 10 years, been convicted of an offence under this Act, the Election Act or the Canada Elections Act (Canada) is not eligible to be recognized as a scrutineer.
(2) Before a person is recognized as a scrutineer, the person shall make and subscribe before the presiding deputy at the voting station a statement in the prescribed form.
(3) The presiding deputy shall not permit a candidate to have an official agent or a scrutineer present while the candidate is present in a voting station during voting hours.
(3.1) The presiding deputy shall not permit a candidate to have both an official agent and a scrutineer present at the same time in a voting station during voting hours.
(4) A candidate or official agent personally may
(a) undertake the duties that the candidate's scrutineer may undertake, and
(b) attend any place that the candidate's scrutineer is authorized by this Act to attend.
(5) The presiding deputy may designate the place or places at a voting station where a candidate, an official agent or a scrutineer of a candidate may observe the election procedure, and in designating the place or places, the presiding deputy shall ensure that the candidate, official agent or scrutineer can observe any person making a statement under section 53(1)(b) or (2), 77 or 78.
After Election Day - Voting Station Recount
Section 98 of the Local Authorities Election Act
- Application must be made by a candidate or an agent or scrutineer of a candidate during the 44 hours immediately following the closing of the voting stations. The application shall show grounds that the Returning Officer considers, under the Act, for alleging that the record of the result of the county of votes is inaccurate.
After Election Day - Judicial Recount of Votes
Section 103 of the Local Authorities Election Act
- Application must be made by an elector to the court within 19 days of the close of the voting stations. A deposit is required of $300 as security for the payment of costs and expenses, and shall not be paid out without the order of a judge.