Generally, any Canadian citizen who is 18 years of age or older on election day and has lived in B.C. for at least six months may be nominated as a candidate for election as an MLA.
Typically, candidates have also been actively involved in their constituency and have already been through a political party nomination process in accordance with both their own party’s constitution and the provincial Election Act, 1996.
Candidates can run either as the official candidate of a registered political party or as an independent. Becoming a candidate requires submitting a nomination form signed by at least 75 eligible voters in their constituency and paying a $250 nomination deposit. Candidates are not required to reside in their constituency.
For more information on becoming a candidate, visit the Elections B.C. website.
![Part 5, Division 1 of the Election Act outlines the qualifications for being nominated to run in a provincial election.](https://www.leg.bc.ca/sites/default/files/images/DYL/purpose/Election%20Act%2C%201996%2C%20Division%205%20Candidates.jpg)