Municipal Election

Are you Qualified to Run as a Municipal Election Candidate?

A person is eligible to be nominated as a candidate in a municipal election if the person:

• is eligible to vote in the election;
• must have resided in the Town of Olds for at least six (6) consecutive months immediately preceding nomination day; and
• must not be otherwise ineligible or disqualified.

Nomination Documents

For the candidate’s nomination to be valid, the candidate must complete the prescribed Nomination Papers. 
 A complete form will:

• be signed by five (5) eligible voters, including signature, printed name, and address;
• have the Nomination paper and Candidate’s Acceptance (Form 4), Candidate Financial Information (Form 5) and the Town of Olds Release of Candidate Information form completed; and
• Forms must be received by the Returning Officer located at the Municipal Office. You may deliver it in person, by hand-delivery, or by mail, and it must be received prior to the end of the nomination day.

You will be issued a receipt upon acceptance by the Returning Officer.
It is recommended to hand deliver nomination papers where possible, as the Returning Officer will review the package for accuracy and provide you with additional information pertaining to your campaign.

NEW Notice of Intent to Run

Due to recent changes to the Local Authorities Election Act, unless a candidate has already submitted their nomination papers, a notice of Intent to Run must be filed with the Town prior to accepting or expending campaign funding. 
(Notice of Intent Form - LGC14717 Rev. 2024-10)

Do You Understand the Position?

As a member of Council, you will have the opportunity to significantly influence the future of your community. All decisions must be made at meetings, held in public, at which a quorum is present.
As an individual member of Council, you will not have the power to commit your municipality to any expenditure or to direct the activities of municipal employees. Any promise you make as part of your election campaign that involves municipal expenditures, or the activities of employees can only be carried out if a majority of Council votes in favor of the matter at a meeting. 
The duties and responsibilities of councillors are outlined in Section 152 to 156 of the Municipal Government Act. In general, members of Council are expected to participate in setting policies and governance planning for the municipality. 

Understanding Responsibilities of the Position (Time Commitment)

Becoming a member of Council is a challenging and rewarding experience. As an elected official, you will have the opportunity to influence the future of your community. You will be expected to represent our community and act on its behalf.
As a member of Council, there will be demands on your time, energy, and commitment. In addition to regular meetings, you will be required to attend special meetings, committee and board meetings, and various public meetings and functions.
If elected as a member of Council, you will be expected to serve a four (4) year term. Your term of office begins at the first meeting of the Council following the general election. During the four-year term, you will be expected to attend:

• Regular Meetings of Council and Committee of the Whole Meetings which are typically held on Mondays commencing at 1:00 PM. You will be required to prepare for these meetings by reviewing an agenda that will be provided to you prior to the meeting; 
• Special Meetings of Council that may be called from time to time to deal with time sensitive matters;
• Meetings of other boards, commissions, and committees to which you are appointed as the Town of Olds’ representative;
• Conferences, conventions, seminars, and workshops;
• Social and other events promoting the Town; and
• Strategic planning sessions and budget discussion sessions.

The Town is a member of both the Alberta Municipalities Association (AB Munis) and the Rural Municipalities Association (RMA) organizations. Both organizations hold annual conferences which members of Council will be expected to attend. The Town is also a member of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), which the Mayor and two Councillors are expected to attend in early June.
In addition to attending the above, members of Council will be required to spend adequate time reviewing materials provided to them by Administration to adequately prepare for meetings in order to make informed decisions.

Remuneration & Benefits

As of January 1, 2025:

• Compensation for the Town's Councillors' shall be equal to $38,524.
• Compensation for the Town’s Chief Elected Official (Mayor) shall be equal to $58,658.
• Members of Council are entitled to the same benefits package as Town of Olds employees, except for the short-term and long-term disability benefit.

Council Remuneration & Expenses Policy 106C governs remuneration for services performed and expenses incurred during the performance of duties as a member of Council.

• MUNICIPAL ELECTION OVERVIEW

• ELECTION FORMS - some of the new forms are now available on the forms page!
  • FORM 4 - Nomination Paper & Candidate's Acceptance
  • FORM 5 - Candidate Financial Information

• ELECTION SIGNS - ALBERTA TRANSPORTATION

• ELECTION COMPLAINTS

• PETITIONS TO COUNCIL

• A Candidate's Guide - Running for Municipal Office in Alberta 2025

• Roles and Responsibilities of Municipal Officials 2025

• What Every Councillor Needs to Know 2025

You may find more information on municipalities and elected officials’ general duties on the following websites:

• ALBERTA GOVERNMENT - MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS (AMA)
• RURAL MUNICIPALITIES OF ALBERTA (RMA)
• ALBERTA MUNICIPALITIES ASSOCIATION (AB MUNIS) Running for municipal office
• FEDERATION OF CANADIAN MUNICIPALITIES (FCM)