Provincial/Territorial Requirements for Elector and Witness Signatures on Candidate Nomination Forms – CEO Appearance on Bill C-19, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (COVID-19 response)

Introduction

The table below provides publicly-available information about the requirements for elector and witness signatures on candidate nomination forms in Canadian provinces and territories.

The signatures of electors consenting to a candidacy are required in all jurisdictions except for Nunavut (NU). One or more witnesses to the signatures of electors consenting to a candidacy are required in all jurisdictions except for British Columbia (BC), Manitoba (MB), Prince Edward Island (PE), and Nunavut (NU).

Among jurisdictions that require a witness(es) to electors consenting to a candidacy, more than half impose it as a legislative requirement, the remainder imposing it administratively or otherwise. Depending on the jurisdiction, the witness must initial or sign each signature (e.g. in Nova Scotia (NS)) in the candidate nomination papers or at the bottom of the form (e.g. Alberta (AB)) or in both places (e.g. Saskatchewan (SK)).

A search of the publicly-available information about these requirements shows that none of the jurisdictions appear to use an electronic tool for collecting e-signatures of electors consenting to a candidacy, or their witnesses. In addition, no Chief Electoral Officer orders or directives related to witnesses' signatures were found in jurisdictions that have held "pandemic" elections. However in BC, the CEO issued an order so that declarations related to the collection of nominators' signatures may be made orally instead of in writing (see pg 23 of the linked document).

An annex provides relevant forms and links to provincial and territorial information.

Table

Table of Provincial/Territorial Requirements for Elector and Witness Signatures on Candidate Nomination Forms
Jurisdiction	Signatures of electors consenting to candidacy	Witnesses to electors consenting to candidacy
AB	25 signatures.^{footnote 1} Fields: name, address, and signature.^{footnote 2} Submit via candidate nomination form (E-18-405), which must be filed with the RO. "All forms must contain original signatures; faxed or photocopied signatures will not be accepted."^{footnote 3}	Witness(es) required, per Elections Act^{footnote 4} Bottom of form (name and signature) Witness must swear/affirm that they "witnessed the signatures of the electors recorded on this Candidate Nomination Paper."^{footnote 5} Signatures must be "in the presence of the witness".
BC	75 signatures. Fields: date, name, address, and signature. Submit via Candidate Nomination Application (320) Alternative options for collection: orally^{footnote 6} (see CEO order);^{footnote 7} electronically;^{footnote 8} or via tablet^{footnote 9}.	Witness(es) not required. However: the individual accepting an oral nomination must provide their name and sign a declaration that they have received the oral nomination declaration.^{footnote 10}
MB	50 signatures.^{footnote 11} Fields: name, address, signature.^{footnote 12} Submit via candidate nomination form (Form 400 – Part 3), which can be submitted via fax or email^{footnote 13} (TBD)	Witness(es) not required.
NB	25 signatures.^{footnote 14} Fields: name, address, and signature. Submit via candidate nomination form (P 04 001, Part F) Submitted in person.^{footnote 15}	Witness(es) required, per Elections Act.^{footnote 16} Line-by-line (signature), at top of form (name), and end of form (name, address, signature)^{footnote 17} Witness must swear/affirm that electors are qualified and that they signed in their presence.^{footnote 18}
NL	10 signatures.^{footnote 19} Fields: name, signature, and address.^{footnote 20} Submit via candidate nomination form (N1-N5)	Witness required, per Elections Act, 1991.^{footnote 21} (candidate's witness must vouch for nominators' status as elector) At end of the form (first, last, address, signature). No line-by-line initialling or signatures. Witness must swear/attest.^{footnote 22}
NS	5 signatures.^{footnote 23} Fields: name, address, and signature. Declaration incorporated. Submit via candidate nomination paper (Form 105). Original must be submitted in-person.^{footnote 24}	Witness(es) required, but not per legislation (may be an administrative requirement). Line-by-line (first, last, signature). Oath incorporated.
NT	15 signatures.^{footnote 25} Fields: name, address, and signature.^{footnote 26} Submit via candidate nomination form (Form 2010 – Part 2) Accepted only in person.^{footnote 27}	Witness(es) required, per Elections and Plebiscites Act^{footnote 28} Line-by-line (initials) and at bottom of form (name, address, signature, initials) Witness must swear/affirm they "know the persons whose signatures I have witnessed above and believe them to be eligible electors…"^{footnote 29} Nominator must sign in presence of witness.^{footnote 30}
NU	No signatures required. No mention in Declaration of Candidacy form,^{footnote 31} in Nunavut Elections Act, or in Elections Regulations (esp. s. 13)	Witness(es) not required.
ON	25 signatures.^{footnote 32} Fields: name, address, and signature. Declaration incorporated.^{footnote 33} Submit via candidate nomination paper (F0400), which can be submitted in person or by e-mail, mail, or fax.^{footnote 34}	Witness(es) required, but not per legislation (may be an administrative requirement). At bottom of page (first, last name, address, signature). No oath or declaration incorporated. No line-by-line initialling or signatures.
PE	25 signatures.^{footnote 35} Fields: name/signature, and address.^{footnote 36} Submit via nomination paper.	Witness(es) not required.^{footnote 37}
QC	100 signatures.^{footnote 38} Fields: name, address, and signature.^{footnote 39} Submit via "Nomination paper" (D-42-VA/F) Submit nomination papers to RO.^{footnote 40} May be able to send in nomination paper by mail, e-mail or fax.^{footnote 41}	Witness(es) required, per Election Act^{footnote 42} Line-by-line (initials) and at top of form (name, address (if mandatory), phone and email (if mandatory), initials, signature) Witness must declare under oath, before the RO, that they know the persons whose supporting signatures appear on the nomination paper, that they affixed their signatures in their presence and that, to their knowledge, they are electors of that electoral division.^{footnote 43}
SK	4 signatures.^{footnote 44} Fields: name, address, and signature. Submit via candidate nomination form (Form E 405), which must be submitted in-person.^{footnote 45}	Witness(es) required, per Election Act, 1996^{footnote 46} Line-by-line (signature) and at end of form (name, address, and signature). Each signature may have a different witness, or same voter can witness all signatures.^{footnote 47} Witness must swear/affirm that they know nominators whose signatures they witnessed, that nominators are qualified, and that nominators signed in the witness' presence.^{footnote 48}
YT	25 signatures.^{footnote 49} Fields: name, address, and signature.^{footnote 50} Declaration incorporated.^{footnote 51} Submit via candidate nomination form (Form 101), which must be submitted in-person.^{footnote 52}	Witness(es) required, per Elections Act.^{footnote 53} Line-by-line (initials) and bottom of page (name, signature) Each witness to use their own page^{footnote 54}

Annex - Forms

Alberta

Form E-18-405

Text version of above image

The picture shows a blank candidate nomination paper with three columns for the nominator's name, address, and signature. There is also space for the name of the constituency, and the candidate's name and political affiliation.

Text version of above image

The picture shows the end of the blank candidate nomination paper above, with spaces for the witness to sign and date, along with information about offences and penalties for false information.

British Columbia

Form 320

Text version of above image

The picture shows a blank candidate nomination paper with six columns for the date, the nominator's name, address, and signatures, and a check-box to obscure the elector's address from public inspection. The form also includes a script for oral confirmation.

New Brunswick

Form P 04 001

Text version of above image

The picture shows a blank candidate nomination paper with four columns for the nominator's name, address, signature, and a witness' signature. The form also includes legislative requirements related to nominations.

Text version of above image

The picture shows the end of the blank candidate nomination paper above, with spaces for the witness to sign an affidavit, including their name, address and electoral district.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Form N-1

Text version of above image

The picture shows a blank candidate nomination paper with four columns for the nominator's name, address, signature, and a check-box to indicate nominator is a qualified elector.

Text version of above image

The picture shows the end of the blank candidate nomination paper above, with spaces for the witness, candidate and Returning Officer, Justice of the Peace, or Commissioner of Oaths to sign and date.

Nova Scotia

Form 105

Text version of above image

The picture shows a blank candidate nomination paper with six columns for the date, the nominator's name, address, signature, as well as for the name and signature of a witness.

Northwest Territories

Form 2010

Text version of above image

The picture shows a blank candidate nomination paper with four columns for the date, the nominator's name, address, signature, as well as for the initials of a witness. The bottom of the form includes a table with four columns for the witness' name, address, signature, and initials.

Ontario

Form F0400

Text version of above image

The picture shows a blank candidate nomination paper with four columns for the date, the nominator's name, address, signature, as well as for "internal use". The form also includes the text of the declaration of the elector.

Text version of above image

The picture shows the end of the blank candidate nomination paper above, with spaces for the witness' name, address, signature, and the date.

Quebec

Form DGE-42-VA

Text version of above image

The picture shows a blank candidate nomination paper with blanks for the mandatary's name, address, telephone number, and email, as well as signature. There are also spaces for the date and signature of the Returning Officer and candidate.

Text version of above image

The picture shows the end of the blank candidate nomination paper above, with spaces for the nominator's address and signature, and a witness' signature. The form also includes space for the name of the constituency, and the candidate's name, address, and political affiliation.

Saskatchewan

Form E-405

Text version of above image

The picture shows a blank candidate nomination paper with three columns for the nominator's name and address, as well as the witness' signature.

Text version of above image

The picture shows the end of the blank candidate nomination paper above, with spaces for the name, city, constituency, date and signature of the witness to the nominator signatures.

Yukon

Form 102

Text version of above image

The picture shows a blank candidate nomination paper with four columns for the nominator's name, address, signature, and initials. There are also spaces for the date and signature of the witness, and for information about the constituency, candidate's name, and election date.

Footnotes

Return to source ¹Election Act, s. 59(1).

Return to source ² Run as a Candidate and Candidate Nomination Paper

Return to source ³ A guide for candidates on the Election Act (pg 1-4)

Return to source ⁴Election Act, s. 59(2). Candidate Nomination Paper

Return to source ⁵Election Act, s. 59(2) and 61(1). See, also, the form itself.

Return to source ⁶ Candidate Nomination Booklet – Collecting Nominations orally From Nominators

Return to source ⁷ EA-ORD013-2020 (pg 23)

Return to source ⁸ Candidate Nomination Booklet – Collecting Signatures Electronically From Nominators

Return to source ⁹ Candidate Nomination Booklet – Collecting Signatures On A Tablet

Return to source ¹⁰See the form, and Candidate Nomination Booklet – Collecting Nominations orally From Nominators (pg 1)

Return to source ¹¹The Elections Act, s. 55(6). Nomination Paper (pg 8)

Return to source ¹² Nomination Paper (pg 4)

Return to source ¹³ Nomination Paper (pg 6)

Return to source ¹⁴Elections Act, s. 51. See also: Information for Candidates at a Provincial Election

Return to source ¹⁵ Information for Candidates at a Provincial Election (pg 4)

Return to source ¹⁶Elections Act, s. 51(5). See also: Information for Candidates at a Provincial Election

Return to source ¹⁷ Information for Candidates at a Provincial Election

Return to source ¹⁸Elections Act, s. 51(5): "not less than twenty-five persons, naming them, who have signed such nomination paper … they have signed it in the presence of a deponent or deponents…". See also Information for Candidates at a Provincial Election

Return to source ¹⁹Elections Act, 1991, s. 68.

Return to source ²⁰ Nomination Papers

Return to source ²¹Elections Act, 1991, s. 69.

Return to source ²² Nomination Papers

Return to source ²³Elections Act, s. 65(1)(b). See also: Candidates and Official Agents

Return to source ²⁴ Guide for Candidate Nomination (pg 4)

Return to source ²⁵Elections and Plebiscites Act, s. 81.

Return to source ²⁶Elections and Plebiscites Act, s. 80(e) and (f). See also: Nomination Paper.

Return to source ²⁷ The Nomination Process.

Return to source ²⁸Elections and Plebiscites Act, s. 80(g). See also: Nomination Paper

Return to source ²⁹ Nomination Paper. Elections and Plebiscites Act, s. 81(2).

Return to source ³⁰Elections and Plebiscites Act, s. 80(h). Nomination Paper (instructions, pg 2)