The Local Authorities Election Act (as amended) governs municipal elections in Alberta. It sets out rules and regulations for candidates, donors, electors and election administrators that must be followed before, during and after an election.
Candidates are encouraged to develop a working understanding of all legislation concerning elections, including nominations, eligibility, campaigning restrictions, campaign finance and disclosure, election offences and prohibitions at voting stations.
If you are considering running for Council and would like more information, please click here to review the Town of Legal Candidate Information Package.
Additional resources:
Alberta Municipal Affairs - Elections Website
Kings Printer
Alberta Municipalities
Local Authorities Election Act
Municipal Government Act
Updates are being made to many of the regulated forms by the Province based on recent amendments to the Local Authorities Election Act. For access to the most recent forms, visit Municipal Elections
To run in the 2025 municipal election in Legal, you must be:
- At least 18 years old;
- A Canadian citizen;
- A Town of Legal resident since March 20, 2025;
- Not otherwise ineligible or disqualified to be a candidate.
Planning to Run?
An individual intending to run for Council must submit each form below to the Returning officer at the Legal Town office. When there are any changes to the information, please notify the Town office as soon as possible.
Notice of Intent. Submitting this will add you to the Register of Candidates and enables you to accept campaign contributions and incur campaign expenses set out in Part 5.1 Local Authorities Election Act.
Filing Candidate Papers
To become a nominated candidate and appear on the ballot, a candidate must complete and file nomination papers during the nomination period from Jan. 1 to Sept. 22, 2025.
- Between Jan. 1 and Sept. 19, notice of intent forms and nomination papers may be submitted in-person at the Legal Town office to the Returning Officer by appointment only. To make an appointment, please email main@legal.ca or call 780-961-3773.
- On Sept. 22, your papers may be submitted without an appointment between 9 a.m. and noon. Candidate paperwork will not be accepted after noon on Sept. 22.
Candidate nomination forms must be signed by the candidate in the presence of a Commissioner for Oaths, who must commission the form. The Returning Officer is a Commissioner for Oaths and can provide this service for candidates.
Nomination deposits can be paid by cash, money order or certified cheque; $50 for candidates.
Candidates can withdraw their nomination to run in the 2025 municipal election. The deadline to withdraw is noon on Sept. 23. Notice of withdrawal must be in writing. If a candidate’s withdrawal results in there being fewer candidates than there are positions to be filled, the Returning Officer will refuse the withdrawal. Nomination deposits will be refunded to a candidate who withdraws.
After the election, deposits will be refunded to all successful candidates, and all unsuccessful candidates that received at least half as many votes as the successful candidate with the least number of votes.
Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure
All individuals who file a notice of intent form are required to submit Form 26: Campaign Disclosure Statement and Financial Statement and is required to keep all records, including campaign receipts, for at least three years after the filing deadline. All records are subject to requirements outlined in the Local Authorities Election Act; you may be required to produce your records.
Part 5.1 Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure of the Local Authorities Election Act outlines the requirements for contributions, limitations and acceptance of contributions, anonymous and unauthorized contributions, duties of candidates, fund-raising functions, expense limits, disclosure statements, campaign surplus, late filing, offences.
About the Office of Mayor and Council
Scrutineers
Candidates may appoint scrutineers to observe voting processes during advance voting and on election day and may also observe the ballot count. Scrutineers must be at least 18 years old and not convicted of an offence under the Local Authorities Election Act, the Election Act, the Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act or the Canada Elections Act in the last 10 years.
Every scrutineer must present a signed Appointment of Scrutineer form to the presiding deputy in the voting station to observe proceedings on behalf of the candidate.
