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FAQ - Election Offences and Penalties

Date de publication: Octobre 1, 2025

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What is an election offence?

An election offence is a violation of the rules in place that govern the election. An offence could be anything that violates the Municipal Government Act, your municipality’s Elections Bylaw, or your municipality’s Campaign Contributions and Elections Expenses Bylaw.

Offence	Details
Voting	Casting multiple votes at the same election Voting at an election where you are not a qualified elector Making a false statement of identification, or a false declaration in order to vote Impersonating a voter Interfering, or attempting to interfere with a voter marking their ballot Disclosing the identity of the candidate for whom another person has voted
Intimidation & Bribery	Threaten to use, or use, force or intimidation against a person in order to influence someone's vote To grant or promise to any individual person a reward, office, employment, money or property, to influence someone's vote
False Nomination Paper	Filing a false or fraudulent nomination paper, knowing the person nominated does not qualify to be nominated Signing a nomination paper when you are not an eligible elector
Ballot and Ballot Box	Forging, altering or destroying a ballot Possessing a ballot or supplying a ballot to someone else without the authority to do so Putting any item other than a ballot in the ballot box Destroying, taking, opening or otherwise interfering with a ballot box or a packet or ballots Printing a ballot or printing more ballots than authorized
Contravention of regulations	Contravene, or permit someone else to contravene, the regulations

Where can I find the rules for elections?

You can find the rules for elections in the Municipal Government Act, the Municipal Election Regulations, Campaign Contributions and Elections Expenses Bylaw Regulations, and your municipality’s Elections Bylaw and Campaign Contributions and Elections Expenses Bylaw.

Rules specific to elections offences can be found under division 14 – Election Offences (sections 67 to 71), in the Municipal Government Act.

Elections Bylaws may vary from one municipality to another. For example, some municipalities have set their campaign spending limit at $1 or less – in these municipalities you would be committing an election offence if you spent above the limit set in their Bylaw. For more information on your municipality’s Elections Bylaw and Campaign Contributions and Expenses Bylaw you should contact your municipality.

Who can commit an election offence?

Candidates, their agents, election officials, and even voters (electors) can all be found to have committed an election offence!

Candidates can commit election offences if they falsify their nomination paper, if they leave contributions off their disclosure statement, or if they are threatening or intimidating voters.
Candidates’ agents can commit election offences if they interfere with voters while they are voting, or by touching the ballots during a recount.
Election officials can commit election offences when they neglect their responsibilities, or if they mark ballots they aren’t supposed to.
Voters (electors) can commit election offences if they sign a nomination form they are not eligible to sign, if they vote in an election they are not eligible to vote in, or if they make a false statement/declaration of residency in order to vote.

What are the penalties for an election offence?

Depending on if you are a candidate, a council member, an election official or an elector, there are different penalties for committing an election offence:

Note: Penalties may vary by municipality, for more information please contact your municipality or check your municipality’s Elections Bylaw.

Offence	Applies to...	Penalty
General (Offence Under MGA or Regulations)	Anyone	Fine not exceeding $2,000 Imprisonment not exceeding two years Both fine and imprisonment
Voting, Intimidation and Bribery, False Nomination Paper, Ballot and Ballot Box, Contravention of Regulations, Election Official	Anyone	Disqualified from being a candidate in any municipal elections within five years of the offence
Voting, Intimidation and Bribery, False Nomination Paper, Ballot and Ballot Box, Contravention of Regulations	Anyone	Forfeits their council seat Disqualified from being a candidate in any municipal elections within five years of the offence

What do I do if I suspect someone of committing an election offence?

If you have concerns related to potential election offences, you should bring it to the attention of your municipality’s municipal electoral officer (MEO).

If you are an elector and are concerned about a candidate’s disclosure statement; you may make a complaint in writing and deliver it to the MEO or the chief administrative officer (if the MEO is no longer appointed).

How can I avoid committing an election offence?

The best way to avoid making an election offence is to familiarize yourself with the rules, be truthful, and know what your responsibilities are as either a candidate, an agent, a voter or an election official!