Running in the Election

1. You are a Canadian citizen.
2. You are 18 years old or older on Election Day, October 17, 2026.
3. You are a resident of BC for at least six (6) months (i.e. April 17, 2026 or earlier) before the nomination date.
4. You are not disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other enactment from being nominated for, being elected to or holding office, or otherwise disqualified by law.

You do not have to live or own property in the area where you are running for office.

• You have been convicted of and sentenced for an indictable offence and are in custody.
• You have been found guilty of an election offence, such as intimidation or vote-buying, and are prohibited from holding office.
• You are a judge of the Provincial Court, Supreme Court or Court of Appeal.
• You are involuntarily confined to a psychiatric facility or other institution.
• You have been disqualified for specified reasons such as failing to file a candidate disclosure statement in a previous election, failing to make an oath of office or failing to attend local government meetings in the manner and frequency required by the Community Charter.
• You have been otherwise disqualified from being nominated for, elected to, or holding office under the Local Government Act, Community Charter, Local Elections Campaign Financing Act or any other enactment or law.
• You are an employee or salaried officer of the local government. This includes volunteers who are paid for their services - unless they have taken a leave of absence to run for office and agree to resign when elected.
• You are a federal employee - unless you have requested and obtained prior permission from Public Service Commission of Canada (PSC) to run for office.

Candidates must submit Nomination Documents that include nominations from at least two eligible electors from the election area where the prospective candidate wishes to run for office. Prospective candidates should contact the Chief of Deputy Chief Election Officer for Nomination Documents and information about the candidate Nomination Process.

When submitting their Nomination Documents in person, it is recommended that candidates make an appointment with the Chief or Deputy Chief Election Office in advance. Please contact elections@NorthernRockies.ca for additional information.

The deadline to file Nomination Documents is 4:00 p.m.  Friday, September 11, 2026.

The campaign period is the time during which a registered candidate, or any person acting on their behalf, can accept contributions or incur campaign expenses. The campaign period for candidates commences Saturday, September 19, 2026 and ends Saturday, October 17, 2026. It is only during this period that candidates can solicit contributions and expend funds for the purposes of election.  

There are new campaign financing and advertising rules for the 2026 General Local Elections that candidates, elector organizations, and third party advertisers need to be aware of. Key changes include:

• Elector organizations must register with Elections BC in order to endorse a candidate, receive a campaign contribution, or incur an election expense. Read more about new rules for elector organizations.
• Sponsorship contribution limits apply to contributions made by eligible individuals to third party sponsors.
• During the pre-campaign period beginning on July 20, 2026, third party advertising rules apply.
• All election advertising during the pre-campaign period must include an authorization statement.

Read the changes to the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act (LECFA). If you have any questions about the campaign financing and advertising rules in local elections, contact Elections BC at 1.800.661.8683 or electoral.finance@elections.bc.ca.

See the Guide to Local Elections Campaign Financing in BC for Candidates and their Financial Agents

The campaign financing disclosure statement must be received by Elections BC before 4:30 pm, Pacific time, on the filing deadline, 90 days from General Voting Day (Friday, January 15, 2027). The cover page (form 4300) must be signed by the candidate and the appointed financial agent in order for the report to be accepted as filed.

An elector organization or political party promotes a candidate or group of candidates and must register with Elections BC prior to endorsing candidates or conducting any financial activity, including accepting contributions or incurring election expenses.

Scrutineers, also known as “candidate representatives”, represent candidates at general local election voting opportunities by observing voting procedures and scrutinizing the ballot-counting process. Scrutineers may challenge an elector’s right to receive a ballot during voting proceedings or challenge the acceptance of a ballot during the ballot counting process. A candidate and/or their official agent (for example, a campaign manager) may appoint scrutineers. Candidates can choose to appoint a relative or friend to scrutineer for them during voting and at the ballot counting process. A candidate’s official agent may act as a scrutineer on voting day.

Legislation requires that scrutineer appointments must be:

• Written and signed by the candidate
• Include the full name and address of the person appointed
• Submitted to the local Chief Election Officer as soon as practical after the appointment is made

More information:

• Scrutineers Guide to General Local Elections pamphlet
• Province of BC General Local Elections Scrutineers

A third-party sponsor is an individual or organization that undertakes election advertising independent from a candidate or elector organization campaign. Third-party sponsors must register with Elections BC and disclose campaign financing under the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act.

Read the Third party advertising rules that be must followed during the pre-campaign and campaign periods.

For more information on local elections campaign financing, visit the Elections BC website.

• General Local Election
  • General Local Elections 101 (brochure)
• What Every Candidate Needs to Know (brochure)
• Thinking of Running for Local Office?
  • Running for Local Office
  • Candidate's Guide to Local Elections in BC
• Being an Effective Elected Official
  • Ethical Standards for Council Members
  • Responsible Conduct for Council Members
• Elections BC - Candidate Information

• Creating an elector organization An elector organization or political party promotes a candidate and must register their party name with Elections BC.
• Elections BC - Campaign Financing Disclosure Statements
• Third party advertising Read the rules that be must followed during the pre-campaign and campaign periods.

• Community Charter
• Local Elections Campaign Financing Act
• Local Elections Campaign Financing Expense Limit Regulation
• Local Government Act
• Northern Rockies Regional Municipality Election Procedure Bylaw No. 153, 2018
• Northern Rockies Regional Municipality Sign Bylaw No. 73, 2012
• School District No. 81 Procedure for the Conduct of General School Elections and Other Trustee Elections Bylaw No. 5
• School Act

• Institute for Future Legislators Learn from political practitioners in this intensive hands-on mentoring and training presented by the University of British Columbia.
• Christina Benty’s “Great Expectations” offers a clear, thoughtful look at community priorities and the leadership needed to meet them.
• Women Transforming Cities Explore how self-identified women and girls can have real social, economic, and political power in cities.