Election Statutes Amendment Act, 2025*

Summary#

• Bill 54 makes wide changes to Alberta’s election, finance, referendum, initiative, recall, and local election laws.
• It adds new rules for how you vote, who can donate to politics, how much can be spent, and what must be disclosed. It also changes how citizen‑led initiatives, referendums, and MLA recalls work.

Key changes:

• Voting and counts: hand-counting only (no tabulators); more advance voting days and minimum locations; tighter rules for mail‑in (Special) ballots; no voter “vouching.”
• Money in politics: allows donations from Alberta corporations and unions (within limits); raises spending limits for parties and candidates; creates “prospective candidate associations” that can fundraise before a campaign.
• Third parties: raises spending caps; lowers individual/entity contribution limits to third parties; keeps a ban on doing internal party work.
• Citizen tools: extends time to collect signatures for initiatives; sets simpler, province‑wide signature threshold; sets deadlines to hold votes; expands who can fund initiative and recall campaigns.
• Government ads and signs: restricts government advertising during election periods; bans municipalities from passing their own election sign/advertising bylaws (province may set rules).
• Recall and referendums: adjusts recall thresholds and timelines; lets cabinet pause or restart elections/referendums in emergencies.

What it means for you#

• Voters

  • Counting will be by hand, not machines. Unofficial counts must finish within 12 hours after polls close.
  • Advance voting must run Tuesday to Saturday (9 a.m.–8 p.m.) the week before election day, with minimum locations in towns and cities.
  • Most voters must vote within their own electoral division at advance polls (the “vote anywhere” option is removed).
  • You must show ID with your residential address. Voter “vouching” by another voter is removed.
  • Special (mail‑in) ballots must arrive by 5 p.m. the Friday before election day and, unless the Chief Electoral Officer allows otherwise, must be returned by mail only. Others cannot collect or deliver your ballot unless helping due to disability or illness.

• People holding local office who run provincially

  • Municipal councillors and school board trustees must take unpaid leave starting on writ day. If elected as an MLA, they are deemed to have resigned from their local office; if not elected, they return.

• Donors

  • Individuals, most Alberta corporations, and Alberta trade unions/employee organizations can donate.
  • Annual limits per donor: up to $5,000 to each of a party, a constituency association, a prospective candidate association, and a candidate (and a separate $5,000 total to leadership contestants).
  • You can claim the provincial political contribution tax credit on donations to registered prospective candidate associations.

• Prospective candidates and parties

  • New “registered prospective candidate associations” let would‑be candidates raise and spend money before a formal campaign, with reporting and transfer rules.
  • Candidate spending limit rises to about $75,000 per election; party limits change to a flat $5 million cap per year on election expenses.
  • Loans and guarantees: more detailed rules; some guarantees count as contributions; a candidate can guarantee up to a set amount for their party without it counting as a contribution.

• Third‑party advertisers (political and referendum/Senate)

  • Spending caps increase (e.g., up to $500,000 in general election periods; up to $10,000 per electoral division), but contributions to third parties are capped at $5,000 per contributor per year.
  • Corporations and Alberta unions can contribute to third parties (within limits).
  • Third parties still cannot do party membership sales, fundraising for parties/candidates, or share voter data with parties.

• Citizen initiative and referendum

  • Signature period for initiative petitions extends from 90 to 120 days.
  • A petition needs signatures equal to at least 10% of votes cast in the last general election (province‑wide), replacing higher and more complex thresholds.
  • Initiative referendums/votes must be held by the next scheduled general election (or the following one if timing is too tight).
  • Corporations and Alberta unions can contribute to initiative campaigns (within limits).

• MLA recall

  • You get 90 days (up from 60) to collect signatures.
  • To trigger a recall vote, signatures must equal at least 60% of votes cast in the MLA’s last election (not 40% of all electors).
  • Corporate and union donations to recall campaigns are allowed (within rules). A short response statement from the MLA will appear with the recall petition.
  • No recall during the first 12 months after an MLA is elected, and not within 12 months before the next fixed election date.

• Municipalities and local election participants

  • Municipalities may not pass their own bylaws on election signs/advertising; the province can make rules.
  • Local candidates must file more frequent disclosure statements, which must be posted online with personal addresses redacted. A review engagement is required if funds or expenses are $50,000 or more.
  • Third parties in local elections also face added, online‑posted reporting.

Expenses#

• Estimated budget impact: No publicly available information.
• Likely effects:
  • Hand counts and more required voting locations could increase Elections Alberta staffing and venue costs.
  • Tighter mail‑in handling and expanded advance voting hours may add administrative costs.
  • Municipalities may save some staff time on sign bylaw enforcement but face more website posting and disclosure work.

Proponents' View#

• Hand‑counting and stricter mail‑in controls will boost trust in results and protect ballot integrity.
• More advance voting days and minimum sites improve access, especially in small towns and rural areas.
• New funding rules reflect real costs of campaigning; clear limits, higher penalties, and stronger audits keep the system fair.
• Prospective candidate associations let newcomers organize early and transparently.
• Simpler, province‑wide thresholds and timelines make citizen initiatives and referendums more workable.
• Higher third‑party caps with lower per‑donor limits balance free expression with limits on any single donor’s influence.
• Central, province‑wide sign rules avoid a patchwork of municipal bylaws and provide consistency.
• Emergency powers to pause and restart elections or referendums protect safety and the integrity of the vote.

Opponents' View#

• Ending “vote anywhere” advance voting and removing vouching may make voting harder for students, people without fixed addresses, and others lacking ID.
• Friday mail‑in ballot cut‑off and mail‑only returns could disqualify ballots, especially for rural, remote, overseas, or last‑minute voters.
• Banning tabulators could slow results and increase human error, while raising costs.
• Allowing corporate and union donations and raising spending limits invite more big‑money influence and may disadvantage smaller parties and independents.
• Raising third‑party spending caps could amplify well‑funded voices; removing provincial polling‑disclosure rules reduces transparency.
• Overriding municipal sign bylaws reduces local control and could increase clutter or safety concerns.
• Recall changes still set a high bar and add more money to recall politics; cabinet powers to discontinue votes may be overbroad.