Service Standards for the Nomination Process

Elections Canada strives to give candidates and their representatives the best possible service as they go through the nomination process. When a candidate is ready to file their nomination paper, here are the steps and service standards that apply:

1. The person who witnessed the candidate's consent makes an appointment with the returning officer to file the nomination paper. The candidate may or may not be present.
2. The returning officer does a preliminary verification with the witness in the office.
3. The returning officer has 48 hours to accept or reject the nomination. If the nomination is rejected, a new nomination paper may be presented up until the time that nominations close.
4. When the returning officer confirms a nomination, they provide the notice of confirmation to both the candidate and Elections Canada.
5. Within 48 hours of receiving the notice, Elections Canada posts the name of the confirmed candidate on its website.
6. As soon as a candidate is confirmed, the returning officer gives them a variety of materials, including a copy of the following:
   • the Canada Elections Act
   • a multimedia kit containing a USB key with political financing information and tools (used to generate electronic financial returns and official receipts), an instruction sheet and pamphlets
   • the preliminary lists of electors for the electoral district
   • polling division maps
7. Lastly, the returning officer invites all confirmed candidates and their representatives to a meeting to review numerous topics: special voting rules, targeted revision, lists of electors, voting options for incumbents, rules for displaying partisan material, validation of results, etc.