The Candidate’s Financial Report

An election campaign does not end when the results are announced at the end of polling day.

The submission of a complete and accurate Candidate’s Financial Report (form 2120) marks the official end of every candidate’s campaign.

Completing the Candidate’s Financial Report is one of the key responsibilities of the Official Agent. It is a document that is required by law to be submitted to the Chief Electoral Officer within 60 business days of polling day.

The Elections and Plebiscites Act requires that proper records of all election financial transactions be maintained. The Official Agent must record and report all monetary and non-monetary contributions as well as the names and addresses of those who contributed more than $100 to a campaign, and all election expenses.

Once submitted, the Candidate’s Financial Report becomes a public document.

The $200 nomination deposit will be returned to candidates whose Official Agents file a complete and accurate Candidate’s Financial Report within the 60-business-day deadline.

Instructions for completing the Candidate's Financial Report (link is external)

Surpluses and Deficits

Some candidates will find themselves with extra funds at the end of their campaign, while others may not have enough to pay the balance of their election expenses.

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Election surpluses

Within 60 business days after polling day, any contributions that were received but not spent on the campaign must be:

• given to a charitable organization of the candidate’s choosing; or
• provided to the Chief Electoral Officer to be deposited into the GNWT’s Consolidated Revenue Fund

Candidates must report any surplus funds and indicate their chosen option for disposal of these funds in Section Seven of the Candidate’s Financial Report.

Surplus contributions that are donated to a charity are NOT eligible for tax benefits.

Election deficits

Election campaigns sometimes cost more than anticipated. Candidates have two options for reducing a campaign deficit:

1. Official Agents may continue to collect contributions for 60 business days after polling day.
2. Candidates can contribute their own funds to pay the balance of the expenses.

It is important to remember that Candidate’s Financial Reports are also due within 60 business days of polling day, so it is best to plan ahead to avoid having to raise contributions within this period.

If the Official Agent is unable to collect enough contributions to eliminate the deficit, funds must be provided by the candidate to cover any unpaid expenses. This information must be reported in Section Seven of the Candidate’s Financial Report.

Candidates and Official Agents are responsible for paying election expenses in full. Elections NWT does not provide funding to cover any campaign deficits or outstanding debts incurred by a candidate or Official Agent.

Deadlines and Extensions

Occasionally, an Official Agent may have difficulty procuring the required supporting documentation for the Candidate’s Financial Report within the 60-business-day limit.

If an Official Agent is unable to obtain supporting documentation within the time limit, or the documentation arrives too late to complete the Report on time, the Official Agent for a candidate who was not elected may apply to have the deadline extended for an additional 60 days. Extensions are not guaranteed.

The Official Agent for a candidate who has been elected to the Legislative Assembly is eligible to apply to the Chief Electoral Officer for a 15-business-day extension. If more time is required, elected members must apply to a judge of the Supreme Court for an authorized excuse for late filing. Extensions are not guaranteed.

An application for any type of extension must be made to the Chief Electoral Officer before the expiry of the original 60-business-day deadline. Extensions are considered on a case-by-case basis.