Nomination rules

Nomination rules in elections regulate the conditions under which a candidate or political party is entitled to stand for election. The right to stand for election is sometimes called passive suffrage, as distinct from active suffrage, which is the right to vote. The criteria to stand as a candidate depends on the individual legal system. They may include the age of a candidate, citizenship, endorsement by a political party and profession. Laws restrictions, such as competence or moral aptitude, can be used in a discriminatory manner. Restrictive and discriminatory nomination rules can impact the civil rights of candidates, political parties, and voters. In some jurisdictions a candidate or party must not only be nominated but also has to pass separate rules in order to be listed on the ballot paper. In the United States, this is called ballot access. Australia New South Wales Victoria Queensland South Australia Western Australia Tasmania Northern Territory Australian Capital Territory Canadian citizens have a constitutional right to stand for election to the House of Commons of Canada and to the provincial legislative assemblies. A citizen does not need to be nominated by a political party to stand for election. To be nominated as a candidate for the House of Commons, a citizen must be at least 18 years old on election day. A candidate must obtain a number of signatures from eligible voters in the riding they are standing in – normally 100 signatures, but 50 signatures are acceptable in designated remote or large ridings. A candidate does not need to live in the riding where they are nominated, but can only be nominated in one riding. The nomination requirements are set out by a federal statute, the Canada Elections Act, and administered by a federal non-partisan agency, Elections Canada. A candidate can also seek the nomination from a registered political party to represent that party in the election. The party nomination is separate from the nomination process with Elections Canada.