The countdown to the 2025 Edmonton municipal election is now on

Edmonton City Hall (CTV News Edmonton)

Edmonton's 2025 election campaign is officially underway.

Next October, Edmontonians will be heading to the polls to elect a mayor and twelve councillors.

They will also be voting for school board trustees.

There are a number of changes to the process because of new provincial legislation.

Ballots will be hand-counted and political parties and slates are allowed.

They must have a minimum of five candidates who have filed their notice of intent to run with at least 1,000 party members who are eligible to vote to endorse the party's registration. A slate of candidates only needs two candidates who have filed a notice of intent to run.

They can receive campaign contributions and incur expenses. Candidates who seek contributions have to submit their notice of intent to Edmonton Elections and be registered before doing so.

There is a one-step process for parties and candidates to get on a ballot: filing nomination papers.

Notices of intent can be filed now, but nominations papers will have to be filled out in the new year.