2025 Municipal Election: Key Dates and Information

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.

The Notice of Intent to Run process is new for the 2025 municipal election and differs from the Nomination process. Prospective candidates must file the Notice of Intent to Run form before accepting campaign contributions or incurring campaign expenses. Once the Returning Officer receives the completed form, the candidate’s name will be added to the Register of Candidates on the Town’s website.  

After January 1st, 2025 candidates can submit their Nomination forms and Notice of Intent to Run at the same time. Nomination forms cannot be submitted without a Notice of Intent to Run.

Notice of Intent to Run form

Please note that submitting a Notice of Intent to Run does not replace the nomination process, which begins on January 2nd, 2025. Submitting a notice of intent does not mean a person is nominated.   

Should there be any changes to the information provided in the Notice of Intent to Run, the candidate must notify the Returning Officer within 48 hours. 

The campaign period for the 2025 municipal election is October 31, 2024 until December 31, 2025. 

Candidates must follow the election finance rules set out in Part 5.1 of the Local Authorities Election Act and the Expense Limits Regulation. 

The County is required by the Local Authorities Election Act to maintain a register listing all individuals who have filed a Notice of Intent to Run in the upcoming general election. The register will be publicly available on the Town’s website until December 31, 2025.

Nomination Papers

Nomination papers for the position of Councillor, and other related information, can be obtained electronically by clicking on the button below.

Candidate Information Package

Important Documents for Councillors

• Bylaw 016-2023 – Code of Conduct
• Bylaw 017-2023 – Procedural Bylaw
• Policy 2009 – Elected Officials Remuneration & Expenses
• Policy 2135 – Mileage Reimbursement

For more information about being a Councillor and the Municipal Election refer to the links below:

> What Every Councillor Needs to Know

> Municipal Government Act

> Local Authorities Election Act

> Divisional Boundaries Map

*Currently, there have been no Notices of Intent to Run filed.*

Below is a current listing of candidates which have submitted to their Notice of Intent to Run or Nomination Papers to the Returning Officer. This list will be continuously updated. 

Notice of Intent and/or Register of Candidates 

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,
• 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

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).

During your four year term as a Councillor, you will be required to attend many meetings and events which can be demanding on your time. These include:

• Regular County Council meetings, which are held on the second Tuesday and last Thursday of every month at 9:30am
• Meetings of other boards and agencies to which you are appointed as a council representative;
• Various other conferences (e.g. RMA and FCM), conventions, seminars and workshops for training and discussion.

A Councillor must also spend time reading the agenda and preparing for the respective meetings, as well as, speaking with members of the public , the Chief Administrative Officer and other parties related to the municipality. There may also be events promoting Athabasca County where Councillors receive invitations to attend.

During their term(s), Councillors sit on a range of specialized Boards & Committees which fulfill a number of important functions within Athabasca County and the surrounding region.

Under section 153 of the MGA, all Councillors have the following duties:

• To consider the welfare and interests of the municipality as a whole and to bring to council’s attention anything that would promote the welfare or interests of the municipality;
• To promote an integrated and strategic approach to intermunicipal land use planning and service delivery with neighbouring municipalities;
• To participate generally in developing and evaluating the policies and programs of the municipality;
• To participate in Council meetings, Council Committee meetings, and meetings of other bodies to which they are appointed by the Council to obtain information about the operation or administration of the municipality from the Chief Administrative Officer or a person designated by the Chief Administrative Officer;
• to keep in confidence matters discussed in private at a Council or Council Committee meeting until discussed at a meeting held in public;
• to adhere to the Code of Conduct established by the council under section 146.1(1);
• to perform any other duty or function imposed on Councillors by this or any other enactment or by the Council.

How Do I Know if I’m Eligible to Run? 

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 Athabasca County for the 6 consecutive months immediately before Nomination Day 

• A resident of Athabasca County 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. 

Is Submitting a Notice of Intent to Run the Same as Submitting Nomination Forms? 

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 2 to September 22, 2025. 

What is the Register of Candidates? 

The Register of Candidates is a record of all candidates who have given notice to Athabasca County that they intend to seek nomination for office in the next general election, as required by the Local Authorities Election Act. 

Is a Deposit Required to File a Notice of Intent to Run? 

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

When is a Disclosure Statement Required to be Filed? 

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. 

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