Interested in running in the 2020 Municipal or Conseil scolaire acadien provincial Election? The next regular election will be held October 17, 2020. Here you will find information on requirements, official forms and more.
Download the Candidate Information Package [PDF] to learn general information, key dates, and more.
You can also download the Municipal Affairs Candidate’s Guide for the 2020 Regular Election [PDF].
The Requirements
To be a candidate in either a municipal or school board election, you must be:
- 18 years of age at the time of nomination
- a Canadian citizen
- ordinarily resident in the Halifax Regional Municipality for six months preceding nomination day, and continue to so reside
You don’t need to live in the polling district that you’re running in, as long as you meet the residency requirement of six months in the municipality.
The Paper Work
All candidates must either appoint an official agent or file a declaration that you’ll be acting as your own official agent. The official agent must keep track of any campaign contributions and open a separate bank account for this purpose. You should appoint your agent before you begin to accept any campaign contributions. Filing your agent forms will be made public and posted to the municipal website.
You become an official candidate by filing your nomination papers with the Returning Officer. The Nomination Period will be August 27 through to September 7 (business days only). Appointments are required; booking instructions will be provided closer to the period. Nomination Day is September 8 and this is the final day for nominations to be filed. Nomination Day is drop-in only (no appointments). All nominations MUST be filed by 5:00pm on Nomination Day.
If you’re thinking of running an election, you should start by reading the Candidate Information Package [PDF] and the Candidate’s Guide to Municipal and School Board Elections [PDF].
An updated version of the Candidate's Guide will be available later in 2020.
Campaign contributions
Running for office means you are held to the same standards of accountability and transparency as the rest of the Halifax Regional Municipality. This has a direct impact on raising funds for your campaign.
Council passed updates to the By-law C-1100, the Campaign Finance By-law on July 16, 2019 [PDF]. This By-law works in concert with the campaign provisions in sections 49a and 49B of the Municipal Elections Act. School Board candidates are exempt from this By-law. For a summary of the By-law read the Election Campaign Finance Pamphlet [PDF].
Questions are encouraged!
Election Office
Trish Smith, Election Coordinator
Phone: 902.490.6810
Email: election@halifax.ca