Candidate eligibility

You are eligible to run in the 2025 municipal election if you are:

• at least 18 years of age,
• a Canadian citizen,
• a resident of Strathcona County (to run for Mayor) and a resident of the ward (to run for Councillor) for the six (6) consecutive months before nomination day, and
• not otherwise ineligible or disqualified under the Local Authorities Election Act.

If you would like to run as a candidate for Councillor and need to determine which ward you live in, visit the Ward Boundary Review page.

Key dates

• October 31, 2024 –⁠ first day of 2025 election campaign period
• January 2, 2025 –⁠ first day to file nominations at the Election Office
• March 1, 2025 –⁠ last day to file disclosure statement for 2024 expenses/contributions
• September 22, 2025 –⁠ nomination day, nominations must be filed at the Election Office before 12 noon
• September 30, 2025 –⁠ last day to file disclosure statement for the January 1 - July 31, 2025 period
• October 20, 2025 –⁠ election day
• October 22, 2025 –⁠ first day of orientation for Elected Officials
• October 24, 2025 –⁠ official election results posted
• October 30, 2025 –⁠ swearing in ceremony for Elected Officials
• December 31, 2025 –⁠ last day of 2025 election campaign period
• January 1, 2026 –⁠ first day of 2029 election campaign period
• March 1, 2026 –⁠ last day to file disclosure statement for 2025 expenses/contributions

Notice of intent to run

The campaign period for the 2025 municipal election is October 31, 2024, until December 31, 2025.

The notice of intent to run process is new for the 2025 municipal election. Prospective candidates must file the Notice of intent to run (174.8 KB)  form with the Election Office and the form must be filed before accepting campaign contributions or incurring campaign expenses. Once the Election Office receives your completed form, your name will be added to the register of candidates on Strathcona County's website. Candidates must follow the election finance rules set out in Part 5.1 of the Local Authorities Election Act and the Expense Limits Regulation.

Review the disclosure requirements for information about reporting your contributions and expenses.

TIP: Make sure to keep good records of your contributions and expenses. This will be important for completing your disclosure statement(s).

How to be nominated as a candidate

Nominations can be filed during regular business hours between January 2, 2025 and 12 noon on nomination day. You are encouraged to make an appointment with the Election Office prior to arriving. If you would like to be nominated as a candidate for the 2025 municipal election, review the instructions document and complete the forms linked below:

• Instructions for submitting your nomination (129.4 KB)

Required for nomination

• Nomination paper and candidate's acceptance (Mayor) (263.7 KB)
• Nomination paper and candidate's acceptance (Councillor) (264.0 KB)
• $100 deposit
• Candidate financial information (263.0 KB)
• * Notice of intent to run (174.8 KB)
• ** Acknowledgement of Council meeting dates and mandatory orientation (253.6 KB)

*If you haven’t already submitted one. All prospective candidates are required to file a “Notice of intent to run” with the Election Office, and it must be filed before accepting campaign contributions or incurring campaign expenses. 

**The Municipal Government Act requires Strathcona County to offer orientation training to those elected as Mayor or Councillor and requires each Elected Official to attend the training. The Acknowledgement will ensure candidates have sufficient notice to plan to attend this training.

Optional

• Candidate information and release (387.4 KB)
• Official agent information and release (119.5 KB)

Withdrawing a nomination

A candidate may withdraw their nomination as a candidate:

• before 12 noon on nomination day (close of nomination period), or
• within 24 hours after the close of the nomination period, if more than the required number of candidates for the office are nominated.

Withdrawals must be filed with the Election Office in writing. For convenience, a Withdrawal of nomination form (270.1 KB) is available.

Candidate guide and other resources

• The  Candidate guide (9.3 MB) is now available.
• Alberta Municipalities has published information for candidates.

Copies of the Local Authorities Election Act and the Municipal Government Act are available at:

• Local Authorities Election Act
• Municipal Government Act

Alberta Municipal Affairs has additional information for candidates on their website.

If you have any questions about the rules for running for election, contact Alberta Municipal Affairs:

• 780-427-2225
• ma.advisory@gov.ab.ca

Information for scrutineers

Strathcona County’s municipal election will take place on Monday, October 20, 2025, alongside school board elections for Elk Island Public Schools and Elk Island Catholic Schools. Candidates have the option to appoint scrutineers to act as their representatives at voting stations or at the central count centre.  

What is a scrutineer? 

A scrutineer is an individual appointed by a candidate to act as a representative of the candidate to observe the voting and ballot counting processes in a voting station or at the central count centre. 

Can I be a scrutineer? 

To be appointed as a scrutineer, you must: 

• Be at least 18 years of age 
• Not have been convicted of an offence, within the previous 10 years, under the Local Authorities Election Act, the Election Act, the Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act and the Canada Elections Act (Canada). 

Candidates and their official agents can also act as scrutineers. 

How do I get appointed to be a scrutineer? 

The candidate you will represent must complete an Appointment of Scrutineer Form (105.0 KB) for you. 

When you arrive at the voting station or central count centre, show the completed form to the Presiding Deputy or Lead Counter at a voting station, or to the Scrutineer Coordinator at the central count centre. The Presiding Deputy, Lead Counter or Scrutineer Coordinator will have you make a verbal statement and sign the "Statement of Scrutineer” form. You keep the “Appointment of Scrutineer” form, and the election official keeps the statement.  

Which locations can scrutineers observe? 

Scrutineers can observe voting at any: 

• Advance vote location 
• Election day voting station 
• Institutional voting station (assisted living facilities)  

Scrutineers can observe ballot counting at: 

• Any election day voting station (8 p.m. start) 
• The central count centre (Community Centre – Agora, 7:30 p.m. start) 

Rules for scrutineers 

• During voting hours, scrutineers may leave and return to the voting station.
• Scrutineers may be assigned to more than one voting station. 
• Only one representative of a candidate (scrutineer, official agent or the candidate) can be in a voting station at one time. 
• Scrutineers must wear the identification badge provided to them by an election official. 
• Scrutineers must be inside the voting station or central count centre before the count begins if they wish to observe the ballot counting. If they leave before the count is finished, they cannot come back in.  
• Scrutineers must stay in the area the election official designates for them. 

Additional guidelines 

✅ Scrutineers can	❌ Scrutineers cannot
Enter a voting station 15 minutes before it opens.	Take photos or make copies of the voters list.
Look inside the ballot boxes to confirm they are empty before being sealed.	Interfere with voting or prevent someone from voting.
Watch the counting of ballots.	View or assist electors marking ballots.
Make objections to ballot counting if they disagree with the counter and objections will be recorded.	Campaign on the voting station property, including wearing campaign materials.
Sign the “Ballot account and result of vote” form.	Talk to voters inside the voting station.
	Touch any voting materials.
	Take phone calls inside the station.
	Exchange information with a candidate or agent inside the station.