With over 50 days remaining until Alberta’s Oct. 19 referendum, Elections Alberta reports a significant surge in requests for mail-in voting compared to previous elections. As of Tuesday, more than 175,000 requests for special ballots have been received, a notable increase from the 59,589 special ballot requests for the 2023 provincial election, which itself was more than double the number requested before the 2019 election.
The upcoming referendum will feature 10 questions, covering various topics such as immigration, the Constitution, and the possibility of a second binding referendum on Alberta’s separation. The shift towards more special ballot requests is partly due to the discontinuation of the province’s “Vote Anywhere” system, which allowed electors to vote at any polling station during advanced voting. Recent changes to the Elections Act have ended this system, expanding special ballot eligibility to a wider range of voters.
Applications for special ballots opened in July and will continue until Sept. 25 for all eligible electors. Elections Alberta will start mailing out special ballots on Sept. 1, and completed special ballot packages must be returned by mail before 5 p.m. on Oct. 16. Chief Electoral Officer Gordon McClure suggested that some Albertans may opt for mail-in voting to have more time to review the 10 referendum questions thoroughly.
Political analyst Lori Williams from Mount Royal University noted that the complexity of the 10 referendum questions, each with over 400 words, could lead to confusion among voters and potentially longer wait times at polling stations. This uncertainty, coupled with ongoing support needs for the referendum process, has driven the growing interest in mail-in voting. Williams anticipates a further increase in mail-in ballot requests as discussions around the referendum intensify.
To secure a special ballot, individuals can complete an online form on Elections Alberta’s website, send an email, or reach out to the returning office for their electoral division starting Sept. 21. Advance voting will take place from Oct. 13-17, with voting locations open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Oct. 19. This heightened interest in mail-in ballots reflects the significance of the referendum for the future of Alberta and Canada.