Contents
What are Nomination Papers
Nomination papers are the official documents that candidates are required to file with Rocky View County in order to run for office in a municipal election. Nomination requirements are outlined in the Local Authorities Election Act and Rocky View County’s Election Bylaw. Candidates are strongly encouraged to receive independent legal assistance in completing their nomination papers.
To ensure that Rocky View County remains impartial in the nomination process, the County will not assist candidates in preparing their nomination papers. Candidates are required to ensure that their nomination papers comply with the requirements of the Local Authorities Election Act and Rocky View County’s Election Bylaw.
Candidates interested in running for office may refer to Alberta Municipal Affairs’ A Candidate’s Guide: Running for Municipal Office in Alberta for more information on being a candidate in the 2025 municipal election.
When and Where to File Nomination Papers
The Local Authorities Election Act outlines when candidates may begin filing nomination papers with Rocky View County to run in the 2025 municipal election. Nomination papers must be filed with the Returning Officer in person at the County Hall during regular business hours.
- Nominations open on January 1, 2025
- Nominations close at noon on September 22, 2025 (nomination day)
Rocky View County recommends that candidates book an appointment with the Returning Officer to file their nomination papers, as the process for the Returning Officer to accept nomination papers can take some time. Candidates may contact the Returning Officer to book an appointment:
Rocky View County will make the nomination papers of each candidate running for office in a municipal election available for the public to view on the County’s website. Nomination papers will be partially redacted to protect the personal information of candidates.
Who is Eligible for Nomination?
The Local Authorities Election Act outlines the qualifications for candidates running in municipal elections. All candidates running for office in a municipal election must have the following qualifications:
- be at least 18 years old and a Canadian citizen;
- have been a resident of Rocky View County and their electoral division for the six months immediately preceding nomination day (September 22, 2025)
- are not otherwise ineligible or disqualified (refer to the Local Authorities Election Act)
In addition to outlining the above qualifications for candidates, the Local Authorities Election Act also sets out certain factors that may disqualify someone from running for office in a municipal election, which includes:
- being an employee of Rocky View County unless the employee takes a leave of absence from their position with the County in order to run for office
- being indebted to Rocky View County for an amount exceeding $500 and being in default of that debt for more than 90 days
- having been convicted of an offense under the Local Authorities Election Act, the provincial Election Act, the provincial Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act, or the federal Canada Elections Act in the past 10 years
These is not exhaustive list of candidate eligibility requirements, and those wishing to run for office in the 2025 municipal election are strongly encouraged to review the requirements of the Local Authorities Election Act before filing their nomination papers.
Notice of Intent to be Nominated
Recent changes to the Local Authorities Election Act now requires all candidates to file a notice of intent with Rocky View County in order to accept campaign contributions or incur campaign expenses. The notice of intent may be filed by candidates at the same time as their nomination papers or before filing their nomination papers.
The Local Authorities Election Act now allows candidates to accept campaign contributions or incur campaign expenses prior to being nominated as a candidate, provided that the candidate first files their notice of intent with Rocky View County.
Candidates who wish to accept campaign contributions or incur campaign expenses prior to submitting their nomination papers must first file a notice of intent to be nominated with Rocky View County using the prescribed forms available below or directly from Alberta Municipal Affairs:
It is an offense under the Local Authorities Election Act to accept campaign contributions or incur campaign expenses without first filing a notice of intent with Rocky View County.
How to File Nomination Papers
The Local Authorities Election Act and Rocky View County’s Election Bylaw outline the requirements for candidate nomination papers. Nomination papers must be completed using the prescribed forms available below or directly from Alberta Municipal Affairs.
Nomination papers must be filed in-person at the County Hall during regular business hours. Candidates are encouraged to contact Legislative Services to book an appointment with the Returning Officer for the filing of nomination papers. Nomination papers received by mail will not be accepted.
Candidates are required to complete and provide the following forms to the Returning Officer:
Recent changes to the Local Authorities Election Act now requires all candidates to file a notice of intent with Rocky View County in order to accept campaign contributions or incur campaign expenses. It is an offense under the Local Authorities Election Act to accept campaign contributions or incur campaign expenses without first filing a notice of intent.
Candidates who do not intend to accept campaign contributions or incur campaign expenses prior to being nominated as a candidate may file their notice of intent with the Returning Officer at the same time as their nomination papers.
In addition to the required forms noted above, candidates must also provide the following to the Returning Officer at the time of filing their nomination papers:
Rocky View County also encourages candidates to complete an optional Candidate / Official Agent Communications Consent Form in order to receive official information and updates directly from the Returning Officer throughout the 2025 municipal election.
While it is the sole responsibility of candidates to ensure that nomination papers are completed properly, Rocky View County has prepared a Nomination Checklist for Candidates to assist with completing their nomination papers.
Nomination Signatures, Deposit, and Criminal Record Check
The Local Authorities Election Act requires that a candidate’s nomination papers are signed by at least five people from Rocky View County who are eligible to vote in the 2025 municipal election. A candidate’s five signatories must be residents of Rocky View County and eligible voters on the date that they sign the candidate’s nomination papers.
Rocky View County’s Election Bylaw requires a candidate’s nomination papers to be accompanied with a $100 deposit and a criminal record check. Nomination papers filed without the required $100 deposit and criminal record check will not be accepted by Rocky View County. Deposits may be refunded to candidates if one or more of the following scenarios under the Local Authorities Election Act applies:
- the candidate is elected
- the candidate withdraws their nomination
- the candidate receives a number of votes equal to at least half of the number of votes received by the candidate elected to office with the least number of votes
The criminal record check must have been completed within the previous six months from the date that the candidate files their nomination papers. It must be completed by a police service operating in Alberta, such as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police or Calgary Police Service. Criminal records checks will not be accepted if they are conducted by a third-party criminal record check provider.
Acceptable Criminal Record Check Providers