Legislation, Bulletins and Guidelines

Elections Alberta is governed by provincial legislation. When an election, by-election, plebiscite, referendum, recall, citizen initiative or enumeration is held, we must follow the rules outlined in legislation. These include the Election Act, Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act, Referendum Act, Recall Act, Citizen Initiative Act and the Alberta Senate Election Act.

We also have other specific duties assigned by the Local Authorities Election Act and the Electoral Boundaries Commission Act. 

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• Election Act

  The Election Act assigns Elections Alberta the responsibility for: 

  • Conducting provincial elections, enumerations, by-elections and plebiscites 
  • Maintaining an up-to-date permanent Register of Electors 
  • Investigating complaints of possible breaches of the Act and consenting to prosecution, if warranted 

  View the Election Act. 

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  Elections Alberta is also responsible for one regulation under the Election Act: 

  • Election Act Forms Regulation

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  Amendments to the Election Act came into force on March 31, 2022 that will impact how the next election is conducted. Learn more about these changes here.

• Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act (EFCDA)

  The Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act assigns Elections Alberta the responsibility for: 

  • Ensuring filing, examination, and public disclosure of financial documents submitted by political parties, constituency associations, candidates, leadership contestants, and third-party advertisers. 
  • Enforcing legislation relating to the collection of contributions by political parties, constituency associations, candidates, leadership contestants, and third-party advertisers. 
  • Maintaining a register of political parties, constituency associations, candidates, leadership contestants, and third-party advertisers. 
  • Assisting groups forming new political parties 
  • Investigating complaints of breaches of the Act and consenting to prosecution (if warranted) 

  View the Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act. 

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  Elections Alberta is also responsible for one regulation under the Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act: 

  • Prohibited Corporations Regulation

  The Prohibited Corporations Regulation identifies corporations designated as prohibited corporations under section 3 of the Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act. 

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  Amendments to the Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act came into force on March 31, 2022. Learn more about how these changes impact:

  • Political parties, candidates and constituency associations
  • Third party advertisers
• Alberta Senate Election Act (ASEA)

  The Alberta Senate Election Act assigns Elections Alberta the responsibility for overseeing the conduct of senate nominee elections. Senate elections can be held: 

  • With a provincial general election,  
  • With a local authority election, or 
  • At a separate time, following the requirements of the Election Act.  

  View the Alberta Senate Election Act. 

• Referendum Act

  The Referendum Act outlines the process to conduct constitutional and non-constitutional referendum votes. Referendums can be held:

  • With a provincial general election,
  • With a local authority election, or
  • At a separate time, following the requirements of the Election Act. 

  View the Referendum Act.

• Recall Act

  The Recall Act assigns Elections Alberta the responsibility for:

  • Managing the application, canvassing and verification process for recall petitions for Members of the Legislative Assembly
  • Conducting a recall vote following a successful recall petition
  • Ensuring filing, examination, and public disclosure of financial documents submitted by authorized participants and third-party advertisers.

  Note: Local jurisdictions and school boards are responsible for the process of recall petitions for local elected authorities and school trustees.

  View the Recall Act.

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  Elections Alberta is also responsible for one regulation under the Recall Act:

  • Recall Regulation
• Citizen Initiative Act

  The Citizen Initiative Act assigns Elections Alberta the responsibility for:

  • Managing the application, canvassing and verification process for initiative petitions for legislative or policy proposals or constitutional referendum proposals
  • Conducting an initiative vote where a proposal is referred to Elections Alberta by the Legislative Assembly
  • Ensuring filing, examination, and public disclosure of financial documents submitted by the proponent and third-party advertisers.

  View the Citizen Initiative Act.

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  Elections Alberta is also responsible for one regulation under the Citizen Initiative Act:

  • Citizen Initiative Regulation
• Local Authorities Election Act (LAEA)

  As of August 1, 2019, the Election Commissioner will accept and investigate complaints and allegations related to campaign finance and contribution disclosure rules (Part 5.1), and third-party advertising rules (Part 8) contained within the Local Authorities Election Act. Complaints can arise concerning by-elections, term elections, or local general elections. 

  The enforcement authority of the Election Commissioner related to local authority elections includes all elections held for municipal councillors/mayors, school board trustees, irrigation district board members, and Métis Settlement councillors. 

  View the Local Authorities Election Act. 

   

• Legislative Assembly Act

  The Legislative Assembly Act, in part, sets out timelines which affect the conduct of elections and by-elections. 

  View the Legislative Assembly Act. 

• Electoral Boundaries Commission Act

  The Electoral Boundaries Commission Act assigns Elections Alberta the responsibility of providing advice, information and assistance to the Electoral Boundaries Commission established by this Act. The Commission is responsible for reviewing existing Electoral Division boundaries and for recommending Electoral Division boundaries to the Legislative Assembly. A Commission is to be appointed after every second provincial general election, between 8 and 10 years from the appointment of the last Commission. 

   View the Electoral Boundaries Commission Act. 

  View Past Reports:

  • 2016/2017 Alberta Electoral Boundaries Commission Report 
  • 2009/2010 Alberta Electoral Boundaries Commission Report 
  • 2002/2003 Alberta Electoral Boundaries Commission Report 

Interpretation Bulletins

The Chief Electoral Officer has provided interpretation bulletins under the Election Act and Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act in the following topic areas:

• No. 1 Advertising by Government Departments and Provincial Corporations during Election and By-Election Periods
• No. 2 Campaign Period Restrictions and Overlapping Reporting Periods
• No. 3 Party Mergers
• No. 5 Third Party Activities and Expenses
• No. 6 Purchasing Political Party and Constituency Association Memberships

Guidelines

The Chief Electoral Officer is required to post guidelines under the Election Act. They can be found below:

• Guidelines on Access to and Disclosure of Alberta’s List of Electors
• CEO Guidelines for Election Surveys
• Advertising Guidelines for Political Participants
• Cryptocurrency Guidelines for Political Participants

Political Participant Guides

Guides to help political participants and contributors understand and comply with the rules under the Election finances and Contributions Disclosure Act (EFCDA).

• Candidate Guide to the EFCDA
• Constituency Association Guide to the EFCDA
• Guide for Contributors
• Guide for Contributors to TPAs
• Leadership Contestant Guide to the EFCDA
• Nomination Contestant Guide to the EFCDA
• Party Guide to the EFCDA
• Political and Election TPA Guide to the EFCDA