Municipal Elections

The Community Governments follow the Local Authorities Elections Act in regards to eligibility of voters and candidates.A person is eligible to vote if they:

• Are a Canadian citizen;
• Have reached the age of 18 years; and
• Have lived in the community at least 12 consecutive months immediately before Election Day.

A person is eligible to be a Candidate if they:

• Are a Canadian citizen;
• Have reached the age of 18 years;
• Have  been a resident of the electoral district (ward) at least 12 consecutive months before the close of nominations[1] ; and
• Have not been disqualified by other eligibility sections in the Local Authorities Elections Act. 

Reasons someone cannot be nominated or stand as a candidate:

Professional Conflicts - Section 18(2)

• A judge, territorial judge, youth court judge or justice of the peace[2];
• A member of the Legislative Assembly;
• A full-time permanent employee of the municipal corporation who receives a salary;
• An election officer involved in the same election; or
• An assessor or auditor of the municipal corporation. (section 20(1))

Indebtedness – Section 20(1)

• A person who owes the municipal corporation more than $500  for more than 90 days;
• A person who has a controlling interest in a corporation  (owns, directly or indirectly shares of the corporation with more than 10 percent of the voting rights) that owes the municipal  corporation more than $500 for more than 90 days; or
• A person who has not paid municipal taxes due December 31 of any year prior to the election.

Criminal Convictions and Election Offences

Any person who has been convicted of a major election offense under the Local Authorities Elections Act within the past three years;

• Any person who has been convicted of an indictable offence punishable by imprisonment for five or more years within three years immediately preceding election day, or whose imprisonment (from an indictable offence) ends within three years immediately preceding election day; or
• A person found to have been in a conflict, under the Conflict of Interest Act, may be prohibited by a Court Order from becoming a candidate.

Tlicho Community Governments

The Tlicho Community Governments follow the Local Authorities Elections Act except as noted in the Tlicho Community Government Act in regards to eligibility of voters and candidates, council vacancies and tie votes.

A person is eligible to vote for Councillors if they:

• Are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident on election day;
• Are 18 years old on election day;
• Have been a resident of the community for at least six months immediately preceding election day;  and
• Have been a resident of Mowhì Gogha Dè Niitlee for at least two years immediately preceding Election Day (includes Yellowknife, Dettah, and N’dilo).

A person is eligible to vote for Chief if they:

• Are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident on election day;
• Are 18 years old on election day;
• Have been a resident of the community for at least six months immediately preceding election day;
• Have been a resident of Mowhì Gogha Dè Niitlee for at least two years immediately preceding election day (includes Yellowknife, Dettah, and N’dilo); and
• Are a Tlicho citizen.

A person is eligible to be a candidate for Councillor if they:

• Are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident on election day;
• Are 18 years old on election day;
• Have been a resident of the community for at least six months immediately preceding election day; and
• Have been a resident of Mowhì Gogha Dè Niitlee for at least two years immediately preceding Election Day (includes Yellowknife, Dettah, and N’dilo).

A person is eligible to be a candidate for Chief if they are:

• A Tlicho citizen, nominated by two Tlicho citizens;
• 18 years of age on election day; and
• A resident of the community for at least two years immediately preceding Election Day.

A person is NOT eligible to run as a candidate for Councillor or Chief, if they are:

• People with professional conflicts;
• A judge, territorial judge, youth justice court judge or justice of the peace (a justice of the peace may obtain a leave of absence);
• A member of the Legislative Assembly;
• A full-time permanent employee of the community government who receives a salary (unless the council has adopted a bylaw under section 14(6) of the Tlicho Community Government Act to allow certain classes of employees to be candidates);

• An election officer for that election; or
• An assessor or auditor of the community government.

A person is ineligible due to indebtedness if they:

• Owe the community government more than  $2,000 for more than 90 days; or
• Have a controlling personal interest of 10 percent voting shares of public/private corporation owing the community government a sum exceeding $5,000 over 90 days.
• If the community government has passed a bylaw, persons who have not paid all previous years’ property taxes in the community before the close of nominations.

A Person is ineligible due to election offences if they:

• Have been convicted of a major election offence under the Local Authorities Elections Act within five years before Election Day.

[1] A Charter Community Government may have a different length of residency requirement.

[2] A Justice of the Peace must obtain a leave of absence until the election results are declared.  If elected, the position of Justice of the Peace is declared “vacant” by the Department of Justice.