A candidate is a person who runs in an election. In a territorial general election or by-election, the candidate who receives the most votes in a constituency (voting district) becomes the Member of the Legislative Assembly for that constituency.
Who Can Be a Candidate?
If you can vote, you can be a candidate.
- See Who Can Vote?
Constituency Rules
- In a General Election, you can be a candidate in any constituency in Nunavut, not just the one you live in. But, you can be a candidate in only one constituency at a time.
- In a By-Election, you must be a resident of the constituency on the day the writ is issued.
Disqualifications from Being a Candidate
There are some special disqualifications from being a candidate. You cannot be a candidate if you are:
- An employee of Elections Nunavut;
- An employee of the Government of Nunavut who did not take a leave of absence;
- A member of a municipal council (Mayor or Councillor) who did not take a leave of absence;
- A member of the House of Commons, Senate, or legislature of another territory or province;
- A judge (except in a citizenship court);
- A person who is in jail and will still be in jail after election day;
- A person who did not follow a compliance agreement from the last election; OR,
- A financial agent or candidate in the last election who did not file their campaign financial return on time: the list of noncompliant candidates and financial agents can be found here.
A member of the Legislative Assembly may leave their seat because they’re charged with or convicted of a crime under Nunavut or Canadian laws. This person can be a candidate again only five years after the constituency elects someone else to take their place.
How do I Become a Candidate?
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Read Elections Nunavut’s guides:
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Check with your employer.
Some employers have rules for employees who are candidates. For example, you might have to take a leave of absence during election time.
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Choose a Financial Agent.
This person manages all the money for your campaign. They take contributions from supporters, pay expenses, and help you do your financial report after the election. You and your financial agent must both sign your Declaration of Candidacy.
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Declare your candidacy.
Fill out the Declaration of Candidacy. It must be signed by you and your Financial Agent. Take it to your local Returning Officer or Assistant Returning Officer.
You must do this between 35 to 31 days before election day. The cut-off on the last day is at 2 pm (local time).
You must provide a $200 deposit with your Declaration of Candidacy.
Other Forms and Resources
For more information about elections and being a candidate, read:
- Guide to the Nunavut Elections Act
- Nunavut Elections Act
- Cyber Security Advice for Political Candidates
- Campaigning Safely During COVID-19
All Elections Nunavut forms and many other resources are available here:
