The campaign period is the official timeframe during which election campaigns operate, beginning when the election is formally called (or nomination period opens for municipal elections) and ending on election day. Campaign finance rules, spending limits, and advertising restrictions typically apply during this period. For federal elections, the campaign period is usually about 5-7 weeks; provincial and municipal periods vary. Some rules distinguish between different phases—the 'writ period' when the election is officially called versus the broader pre-election period. Campaign periods are designed to give candidates sufficient time to reach voters while preventing excessively long campaigns that might favour well-funded candidates.