A third-party advertiser is a person, corporation or trade union intending to spend money on advertisements or other materials that support, promote or oppose a candidate in the 2025 By-election for Ward 1 and Ward 4.
Third-party advertisers must register with the Clerk before they can accept any contributions or spend any money on advertising.
What is not third-party advertising
Activities that do not involve spending money, such as discussing or expressing an opinion about a candidate, are not considered to be third-party advertising. Other examples include:
- speaking to friends and neighbours
- posting on social media, such as X, Facebook or Instagram
- sending an email to a group or mailing list
Rules for third-party advertising
If a person, corporation, or trade union wishes to spend money on advertisements that promote, support, or oppose a candidate in the 2025 Ward 1 and Ward 4 By-election, they must first file a Notice of Registration with the Clerk.
Candidate involvement in third-party advertising
Third-party advertising must be done independently of candidates, who are not able to direct a third-party advertiser. If a candidate wishes to purchase or direct their own election campaign advertising, they must follow rules under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 and identify themselves on their advertisements.
Third-party advertising complaints
If you believe that a third-party advertiser has contravened the Municipal Elections Act, please contact the Clerk.
Third-party advertising financial statements
Third-party advertisers need to be aware of their campaign expense limit, what constitutes an expense, and the contribution limits that can be accepted.
For further information, and guidance on requirements for third-party advertisers, please refer to the 2022 Third-Party Advertisers' Guide
