The First Nations Elections Act has received Royal Assent and was passed into law.

This legislation provides an election system that individual First Nations can choose to opt in to.

It includes four-year terms of office.

It will also allow groups of First Nations to hold their elections on a common day and line up their terms of office.

There are also set penalties for things like obstructing the electoral process and engaging in corrupt or fraudulent election activities.

Federal officials say there are still details to be worked out including the preparation of the voters list and mail-in ballots.