Information for Municipal Election Candidates, School Board Candidates
Submitting your paperwork
I spoke with Andres Arias (Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) and Substitute Returning Officer) about submitting paperwork which must include sworn paperwork with the “Signature of Returning Officer or Commissioner for Oaths or Notary Public in and for Alberta. (The Returning Officer must also sign their acceptance of the nomination papers.) Since it must be dropped off in person at the City Clerk’s office and signed by the Returning Officer (aka City Clerk), this can pose a problem because current security arrangements do not allow people to go to the City Clerk’s office without an appointment.
I mentioned this to Mr Arias and he advised people to tell security they are going to drop off nomination papers. As Substitute Returning Officer, he can sign the papers and also take your oath. If you would rather make an appointment, you can make one between the hours of 8:30am-4:40pm, all you need to do is call.
Residency Requirements
I asked him about residency requirements which says a candidate must be
“a resident of the local jurisdiction for the 6 consecutive months preceding nomination day, which is September 22, 2025”
I asked him what that meant. Did you have to sleep here every night or a certain amount of time…He replied that your residence is wherever you call home. For people who work out of town, home is wherever you come back to after work. For people who reside in two different towns, home is wherever you spend the most amount of time.
Nominations are open for all positions - Mayor, Council, School Board
Municipal Candidates including mayor must collect at least 25 signatures from people eligible to vote in the elections. For school board canddiates, the bar is set much lower at 5 signatures. There are other requirements, you can find the links to the info on this page.
Nomination Packages
If you have any questions, here’s where you can get more info.
a) Tarolyn Aaserud, City Clerk and Returning Officer, phone: 403-529-8280, email: election@medicinehat.ca
b) Andres Cardona Arias, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) and Substitute Returning Officer 403-529-8348, email: andcar@medicinehat.ca
c) 3rd Floor City Hall 580 1st St SE, Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1A 8E6
Candidate list
This list is empty at the time of publication even though at least 2 people have announced they intend to run.
