Nomination Contestants
A nomination contestant is a person who seeks endorsement (approval) from a registered party as the party’s official candidate in an electoral division. A nomination contest is the party’s process to select their candidate for endorsement.
Nomination contestants do not register with Elections Alberta. Contact the registered party of your choice to find out more about how to participate in their nomination process. The party is responsible for reporting details to Elections Alberta about the contest and the contestants who participated. Elections Alberta is responsible for ensuring that all nomination contestants file financial returns whether they win, lose, or withdraw.
Endorsed nomination contestants automatically become registered candidates. Click here for candidate information.
For the complete guide on nomination contestant fundraising, spending, and reporting rules click here.
Contributions
A nomination contestant can only accept contributions from persons ordinarily resident in Alberta and only during the nomination contestant’s campaign period. The campaign period starts on the contestant’s effective date and ends 2 months after the contest. Contributions can be money or in-kind donations of goods or services.
The maximum a contestant can receive from any given contributor is $4,600 during the campaign period, less any contributions the person may make to other nomination contestants in the year. The rules also apply to nomination contestants who self-fund their campaigns.
The contestant’s chief financial officer is responsible for reporting contributions to Elections Alberta and issuing official contribution receipts to contributors. Receipts issued for contributions to nomination contestants cannot be claimed for income tax credits.
Click here for more information on contributions and receipts, including previous limits and rules.
Fundraising Events
A nomination contestant or any person acting on the contestant’s behalf can hold events and activities during the nomination contestant’s campaign period only, to raise funds for their campaign. Examples of fundraising events include a luncheon, meet & greet, rally, golf tournament, silent auction etc. Contribution rules limit who can pay to attend events and who can donate/bid at a silent auction. All fundraising revenues and expenses must be reported on the nomination contestant’s campaign return.
Click here for more information on fundraising events.
Expense Limits
Nomination contestants can spend funds during their campaign period, from their effective date to 2 months after the contest.
A spending limit applies during the contest period from date of the official call to the selection date for the contest. A nomination contestant can spend a maximum of $15,200 during the contest period.
The spending limit applies to “election expenses” which are any property, goods or services used, distributed or consumed during the contest period, for the contestant’s promotion or for opposing others. Examples include advertising in all formats, advertising production, fundraising events and activities, polling including surveys and research, honoraria and salaries, office and technology, etc.
These expenses are not subject to the contestant’s spending limit, even if they occur within the election period:
- contestant’s travel expenses related to the election including meals and accommodation,
- contestant’s childcare expenses,
- care for a person with a physical or mental incapacity for who the contestant normally provides such care,
- for a contestant who has a disability, additional expenses related to the disability,
- audit and financial fees necessary for compliance with the EFCDA, and
- reasonable incidental expenses incurred by or on behalf of volunteers.
Click here for more information on expense limits, including previous limits.
Filing Deadlines
Nomination contestants must disclose their financial activities, including filing a nil report if applicable (no financial activity), to Elections Alberta by filing a campaign period return within four months after the selection date of the nomination contest. Automatic late filing fees apply for failure to file a report or return on time.
Click here for more information on filing deadlines.
Financial Reporting
View information for nomination contestants and contests.
View Financial Reporting Website
Online Financial System (OFS)
Nomination contestants and their chief financial officers are granted access to Elections Alberta’s secure Online Financial System to report contributions, issue official contribution receipts to contributors, and submit financial returns.
Contact us for access and login queries.