FAQ

On October 18, 2024, Municipal Affairs proclaimed the Municipal Statutes Amendment Act which made several amendments to the Local Authorities Elections Act (LAEA) and the Municipal Government Act (MGA). The amendments related to municipal elections came into effect on October 31, 2024.

Key Legislative Changes (Effective Oct. 31, 2024)

• Automated Voting: Prohibited.
• Nomination Period: Extended from Jan. 1 to Nomination Day (Sept. 22, 2025).
• Campaign Limits: Alberta-wide limits introduced.
• Third-Party Advertising: Registration and financial disclosure required; capped at $5,000.
• Campaign Contributions: Union and corporate donations permitted.
• Voter Identification: Vouching allowed only for address.
• Recall Petitions: Validation responsibility transferred to Minister.
• Electors Register: Municipalities must create a Permanent Electors Register in partnership with Elections Alberta.
• Councillor Training: Orientation training is now mandatory.
• Special Ballots: Expanded application eligibility for electors unable to vote at Advanced polls or on Election Day.

Anyone considering running for office should confirm their eligibility as a first step. To be eligible, a prospective candidate must be: 

• At least 18 years old on Nomination Day (September 22, 2025) 
• A Canadian citizen 
• A resident of Edson for the 6 consecutive months immediately before Nomination Day 
• A resident of Edson on Election Day (October 20, 2025) 
• Not otherwise ineligible or disqualified under the Local Authorities Election Act

It is a candidate’s responsibility to confirm eligibility before engaging in the nomination process.

No. Submitting a Notice of Intent to Run is one step in the process and does not mean you have been nominated and will appear on the ballot. 

Once a prospective candidate’s Notice of Intent to Run submission is complete and they are added to the Register of Candidates, they can accept campaign contributions and incur campaign expenses. 

To become a nominated candidate and appear on the ballot, a candidate must complete the nomination process during the Nomination Period from January 1 to September 22, 2025. 

No, a deposit is not required when filing a Notice of Intent to Run. 

Yes, The Town of Edson’s Elections Bylaw requires a candidate’s nomination papers to be accompanied with a Criminal Record and Vulnerable Sector Check. The Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Check must have been completed within the previous six months from the date that the candidate files their nomination papers. It must be completed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Criminal Record Checks and Vulnerable Sector Checks will not be accepted if they are conducted by a third-party provider.

Candidates are required to file a disclosure statement with the Returning Officer, on or before March 1 of each year, if contributions were received in the previous year. If contributions are collected and/or expenses incurred in 2024, a disclosure statement must be filed on or before March 1, 2025. For contributions collected and expenses incurred in 2025, a disclosure statement must be filed on or before March 1, 2026. 

• Form 26 – Campaign Disclosure Statement and Financial Statement

TIP: Make sure to keep complete and detailed records of your contributions and expenses. This will be important for completing your disclosure statement(s). 

Eligibility - LAEA s. 21(1)

A person is eligible to be nominated as a candidate in any election if on nomination date they are:

• Eligible to vote in that election;
  • At least 18 years of age
  • A Canadian citizen
  • A resident of Alberta & local jurisdiction on Election Day 
• A resident of the local jurisdiction and the ward, if any, for 6 consecutive months immediately preceding nomination day, and;
• Not otherwise ineligible or disqualified.
  • See Local Authorities Election Act 22

Ineligibility - LAEA s. 22(1)

A person is not eligible to be nominated as a candidate in the election if on nomination day:

• The person is the auditor of the local jurisdiction for which the election is to be held;
• The person is an employee of the local jurisdiction for which the election is to be held unless the person takes a leave of absence;
• The person is indebted to the municipality of which the person is an elector for taxes in default exceeding $50, excluding from that amount ( i ) any indebtedness for current taxes, and (ii) any indebtedness for arrears of taxes for which the person has
  entered into a consolidation agreement with the municipality, unless the person is in default in the payment of any money due under the agreement;
• The person is indebted to the local jurisdiction for which the election is to be held for any debt exceeding $500 and in default for more than 90 days;
• The person has, within the previous 10 years, been convicted of an offence under the LAEA , the Election Act , the Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act or the Canada Elections Act (Canada).

Every Candidate must complete and provide the following nomination papers to the Returning Officer by noon on September 22, 2025: 

• Notice of Intent to Run
• Form 4 - Nomination Paper and Candidate’s Acceptance 
• Form 5 - Candidate Financial Information 
• Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Check 
• Minimum of 5 signatures from eligible electors in the Town of Edson 

Written Acceptance: 

Form 4 contains a candidate’s written acceptance and must be commissioned by the Returning Officer or a Commissioner for Oaths. To complete the candidate acceptance, the candidate must be familiar with the following sections of the LAEA: 

• Section 21 - Qualification of Candidates 
• Section 22 – Ineligibility 
• Section 23 & 23.1 – Disqualification of Candidate 
• Section 27 – Form of Nomination 
• Section 47 – Eligibility to Vote 
• Section 68.1 – option for Official Agent 
• Section 151 – Offence 
• Part 5.1 - Election Finances and Contributions Disclosures 

You must sign the nomination paper in the presence of a Commissioner for Oaths or the Returning Officer. 

You can make an appointment with the Returning Officer or Commissioner for Oaths to have your signature witnessed by emailing elections@edson.ca. 

Commissioner for Oaths services are also available through any law office. 

A person nominated as a candidate may withdraw as a candidate at any time during the nomination period and up to 24 hours after the close of the nomination period. However, as per LAEA Section 32(3) the returning officer shall refuse to accept further withdrawals if, after one or more candidates have withdrawn, the number of remaining candidates does not exceed the number of vacancies to be filled. 

At a basic level, a “campaign expense” is an expense a candidate makes during the course of a campaign to help get elected. Technically, this includes any expense incurred, or nonmonetary contribution received, by a candidate to the extent that it is used to directly promote or oppose a candidate during a campaign period. Campaign expenses include: 

• Advertising or promotional material; 
• The distribution, broadcast or publication of advertising or promotional material in any media or by any other means during a campaign period, including by the use of a capital asset; 
• The payment of remuneration and expenses to or on behalf of a person for the person’s services on the campaign; 
• Securing a meeting place; or 
• The conduct of opinion polls, surveys or research during a campaign period. 

Newly elected Town Councillors are mandated to attend orientation sessions to prepare for their term of office on Council. Attendance at the orientation sessions is required by the MGA and the Town of Edson Council Code of Conduct Bylaw, as amended. 

The following are some of the topics that are required to be covered in the orientation sessions, which will be held after the 2025 municipal election: 

• The role of municipalities in Alberta 
• The organization and function of municipalities 
• Budgeting and financial administration 
• The roles and responsibilities of Councillors 
• The roles and responsibilities of the CAO and Town of Edson employees 

Yes, as long as you meet the eligibility requirements for voting.

We will have advanced polls available for those unable to vote on election day. Details are listed above.

No. All Councillors serve the citizens of the Town of Edson as a whole.

All voters in Edson must be on the permanent Electors Registry. To register or check your registration, visit the Voter Link website. The Town of Edson receives its list of eligible voters from Voterlink, please confirm your information is up-to-date to ensure you're ready to vote.

For more information or to register, visit www.voterlink.ab.ca.

For more information on becoming a candidate and for the nomination package, please visit our Candidate Information page.

Ballots are counted by our trained elections staff. The count takes place the night of the election after polls have closed.

After ballots are counted, and ballots can only be counted after polls close. Depending on how many ballots are cast, these can take a number of hours to count. Your patience is appreciated.

The announcement of the official results will happen on the Town's official channels:

https://www.edson.ca/town-office/town-news

Follow our social media accounts for the results announcements

No. The Town's official logo is copyrighted by the Town of Edson. Those who use the logo without the Town of Edson's express written consent are infringing on the Town's copyright, and this includes campaigners.

All Town of Edson logos, crests, graphic design elements, digital content, and designed visual identifiers are property of the Town of Edson. Unless an authorized party is given express written permission from the Town of Edson, anyone using those elements for private use are infringing on the Town's copyright.

If you see a candidate using the Town of Edson's logo in their materials, please contact the Returning Officer.