Campaigning

Campaigning is an accepted practice during elections. It is an opportunity to convince voters you are the best candidate. A campaign usually involves talking and listening to residents, distributing promotional materials, using websites and social media and perhaps attending an ‘All Delegates Forum.’ Rules regarding proper campaign procedures can be found within The Local Government Election Act.

Access to Multiple Dwelling Sites

Landlords cannot prohibit candidates from campaigning or residents from displaying campaign materials. However, landlords can restrict the candidates’ time of access (9 a.m. to 8 p.m. minimum access), restrict the residents’ size and type of campaign materials, and prohibit campaign materials in common areas.

Election Material and Signs

There cannot be any campaign materials posted, erected or placed within 25 m of a voting station. All signs and other campaign materials must be removed within 7 days of the election. Failure, to remove such materials, can result in the municipality causing its removal and charging the expense to the candidate to whom they relate. It is an offence to take down, remove, cover up, mutilate, deface or alter campaign materials without authority.

Candidate Forums

Candidate Forums provide voters the opportunity to hear from the candidates and to discuss with the candidates their various election platforms. Depending on the local authority these forums may be organized by the municipality or by other organizations. Forums usually provide each candidate a specific period of time in which to speak and answer questions.

Sample Questions Handout

Campaigning on Advance Vote and Election Day

There is to be no activity to promote or oppose the election of a candidate within 25 m of a voting station. This includes the wearing or display of any object indicting a political statement or message that could be construed as promoting or opposing the election of a candidate. This does not restrict a candidate or other person from transporting a voter to and from a voting station, but if campaign material is displayed on the vehicle, the driver may only stop at the voting station long enough for the voter to exit or enter the vehicle. 

Election Day

Hours of Voting

The usual hours of voting on Election Day are from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The local authority may change voting hours but the voting station must be open a minimum of nine hours and a maximum of 12 hours, advance vote has a minimum of five hours.

Hours of voting and voting are advertised by public notice. A notice of election is posted at least 24 days before Election Day or immediately after the close of nominations where the nominations have been extended.

Candidate’s Agents (Scrutineers)

Candidates must give written authority to person(s) who will act as candidate's agent(s) and that written authority must be produced to the Deputy Returning Officer at a voting station.  Candidate’s agents are sometimes called scrutineers.  These are persons appointed by the candidate to assist in their election and observe procedure during Election Day.  Agents may attend at the voting station throughout the day.  Only the candidate or the agent, but not both are permitted to remain in the voting station throughout the Election Day or the vote count. 

Both candidates and agents are permitted to view the Voters’’ Register to see who has voted, provided they do not interfere with voters.  Candidates’ agents do not have campaign financial reporting responsibilities.

Where plebiscites are conducted, the mayor/chief can, if requested by a voter, appoint in writing a sufficient number of people who support and people who oppose the plebiscite question to act as scrutineers at each voting station and at the final count of the ballots.

Candidates or candidate agents are permitted to:

• Witness the inspection of the ballot box and other voting documents at the opening of the voting station and the counting of the ballots at the close of the voting station;
• Permit candidates/agents to require a voter to show identification or take an oath;
• Examine the Voters Register during the election day provided the agent does not inconvenience or delay the voter, in voting;
• Share information with other agents of the candidate;
• Ask the identity of a voter or ask why a voter requires voting assistance;
• Examine ballot marks and object to a ballot being counted during the count;
• Sign their names on the statement of the results and initial the envelope containing ballots;
• Receive a copy of the statement of the final ballot count.

Candidate’s agents are not permitted to:

• Interfere with voters or the Returning Officer during Election Day; or
• Rush or interfere with the Returning Officer during the vote count.

Election staff may request any person, including a candidate or a candidate’s agent, to leave the voting station if the person is interfering with the proper conduct of the election.  The Returning Officer has the authority to call bylaw officers or RCMP for assistance, if required.

There are restrictions to campaigning on Election Day. These restrictions are set out in the Local Authority Election Act. It is your responsibility to ensure legislation, local bylaws and policies are adhered to.

Closing the Polls

Any voter in line at the time the poll is scheduled to end is permitted to vote. Once all voting is complete, electors are asked to leave. Candidates or their agents may remain to witness the count.