Nomination FAQs

If you meet the following requirements, you can be nominated to run in an election:

• 18 years old;
• A Canadian citizen;
• An ordinary resident of the province on or before polling day; and,
• Not disqualified from election or sitting in the House of Assembly by the Elections Act, 1991 or any other Act.

Yes, you can be nominated to run in any electoral district of the province, even if you do not reside in that electoral district.

• Nomination papers are available on the Elections NL website.
• You can also obtain a paper copy at any District Returning Office or Satellite Office.
• PLEASE NOTE: District Returning Offices and Satellite Offices do not open until after the election begins.

• Collect 10 signatures of qualified electors that reside in the district you are being nominated in.
  • Elections NL recommends obtaining more than the minimum requirement in case a signature is invalid.
• Include a nomination deposit of $200 in cash, certified cheque, or money order.
  • A personal cheque is not valid.
• Complete all oaths and indicate how you would like your name to appear on the ballot.
• Identify your campaign team including your campaign manager and Chief Financial Officer.
• Obtain a Licensed Public Accountant or Licensed Professional Corporation to audit your campaign financial reports.
• Submit your Nomination Papers to the District Returning Officer of the district in which you are being nominated.
  • If running in a district in which you are not a resident, submit your Nomination Papers to that district’s Returning Officer.

• Yes, the deadline is 2:00 pm (1:30 pm in parts of Labrador) eight days after the writ is issued.
• The Nomination deadline will be posted on the Elections NL website and advertised once the election begins.

• No, your Nomination Papers must be delivered to the District Returning Officer of the electoral district you are being nominated in.
• Filing complete Nomination Papers with the District Returning Officer is the only way to become a candidate in the Provincial General Election.

• Yes, you can run as an independent candidate.
• You do not need to be affiliated with a Political Party to run in an election.

• No, each Political Party has its own selection process for determining candidates for each electoral district.
• You must contact the Political Party of your choice to enter their selection process as an affiliated candidate.

• Your Chief Financial Officer is responsible for the financial activities of your campaign. They do not need to be an accountant or bookkeeper, but they should have good organizational skills.
• Proper financial reporting is very important, and Chief Financial Officers are subject to fines or sanctions for non-compliance with the Elections Act, 1991.
• Please ensure your Chief Financial Officer is aware of their responsibility before they join your campaign team.
• Financial reports are due 4 months after the election, and the official due date will be posted when the election is called.

• To complete your financial filings after the election you need an auditor that is licensed to provide assurance services.
• You can obtain these services from either a Licensed Public Accountant or a Licensed Professional Corporation.
• You can find a listing of licensed accountants or firms at the Chartered Professional Accountants of Newfoundland and Labrador (CPANL) website.

You can find a listing of licensed accountants or firms at the Chartered Professional Accountants of Newfoundland and Labrador (CPANL) website.