Signing a recall petition
Alberta's Municipal Government Act (MGA) lets citizens recall a Council member through a recall petition process.
Am I eligible to sign a recall petition?
To be eligible to sign a recall petition, the individual must be eligible to vote for the elected official named in the notice of recall petition.
You are eligible to sign a recall petition if at the time of signing a recall petition you:
- Are at least 18 years old.
- Are a Canadian citizen.
- Are a resident:
- of the city of Calgary, (to sign a recall petition related to the office of the Mayor); or
- of the ward, (to sign a recall petition related to a ward Councillor).
FAQ for signing recall petitions
How do I know the recall petition I am signing has been verified by The City?
In order for a recall petition to be verified by The City, an individual must first submit a notice of recall petition to Elections Calgary. Elections Calgary will determine the compliance of the submitted notice of recall petition to the legislative requirements and, if deemed compliant, will post the notice on this website. View the list of active recall petitions.
Each page of the recall petition must also contain the notice of recall petition, which will:
- identify the Member of Council to whom the recall petition relates by name,
- identify the representative recall petitioner by name, and
- confirm that the municipality may direct any inquiries about the petition to the representative recall petitioner, and indicate the contact information to be used for this purpose.
What information do I have to provide when I sign a recall petition?
An individual signing a recall petition (also referred to as a petitioner) must provide:
- their printed surname (last name) and printed given names (first name) or initials,
- their signature,
- the street address or the legal description of the land on which the petitioner lives,
- telephone number or email address, if any, and
- the date on which the recall petition was signed.
I did not vote in the last election. Can I sign the recall petition?
Yes. You are entitled to sign a recall petition as long as at the time of signing you are eligible to vote for the Member of Council named in the notice of recall petition.
How do I know if my address is within the ward in question?
Use the find your ward tool to determine which ward you live in.
I moved into the ward after the elected official was elected. Can I sign the petition?
Yes. You are entitled to sign a recall petition if your permanent place of residence falls within the affected ward and you are eligible to vote for the elected official named in the notice of recall petition.
I lived in the ward when the elected official was elected, but I have since moved out of the ward. Can I sign the petition?
No. You must currently live in the ward a recall petition relates to in order to sign the recall petition. If a recall petition relates to the mayor, eligible voters in all wards will be entitled to sign a recall petition.
I have a second property (vacation, rental, etc.) in the affected ward or municipality. Can I sign the recall petition?
Electors are only eligible to sign a recall petition in the ward or municipality in which they ordinarily reside.
When can I sign a recall petition?
Recall petitions can only be signed within the 60-day signature collection period. The 60-day signature collection period will begin on the day the notice of recall petition is posted on this website.
Who do I contact to sign a recall petition?
For information, contact the representative recall petitioner. See active recall petitions for contact information.
Can I sign a recall petition digitally?
No. Recall petitions must be signed by eligible electors, in ink, on petition paper sheets which contain the notice of recall petition and be original (wet) signatures of the elector.
Can I sign a recall petition more than once?
No. You may only sign a recall petition once.
Can I sign a recall petition on behalf of my family members?
No. Each eligible elector must sign their own name on a recall petition.
What address must I include on a recall petition for my signature to be counted?
A petitioner must provide their residential address (which is the address in which you ordinarily reside) – this could be their street address or legal land description. This is the address that could be used on a map to determine if you live in the affected ward or municipality. Postal addresses, such as PO box numbers, are not acceptable.
If I sign a recall petition, will my personal information be made public?
No. The personal information contained in a recall petition will not be available for public review. The collection of personal information is used by Elections Calgary to verify the legislated requirements of a recall petition.
What if I make a mistake when signing the petition?
To correct mistakes, neatly put a line through the mistake and make the necessary correction. If the name or address becomes unreadable after the correction, put a line through the petition row and start again on a new row.
I’ve signed the petition but have changed my mind – can I have my name removed?
Removing or adding signatures will only be allowed during the 60-day signature collection period. Contact the representative recall petitioner to make any changes.
No changes to a recall petition can be made after the recall petition has been submitted to Elections Calgary and/or the 60-day signature collection period has ended.
Contact information
If you have any questions about petitions, contact Elections Calgary.
Note: The information on this website is provided for the convenience of reference only. Recall petitions are subject to further requirements in the Municipal Government Act (MGA). Those who wish to submit a recall petition are advised to refer to the MGA regarding the full extent of requirements and obligations.