Advance voting for the Alberta referendum will commence on Tuesday and run through Saturday. Albertans will have the opportunity to provide input on 10 different questions related to constitutional matters, immigration, and Alberta’s place within Confederation. Individuals who did not request a mail-in ballot or missed the deadline for its return can opt to vote at the advanced polling location in their electoral district instead of waiting for the voting day on October 19.
To participate in the advanced polls, voters must visit the electoral district where they reside, as each district hosts at least one advanced polling station. The locations of these voting stations, both for advanced polls and the referendum day, can be found on the Elections Alberta searchable database. It is important to note that the polling locations may vary between advanced voting and the actual referendum day.
According to Elections Alberta spokesperson Michelle Gurney, voters should ensure they bring the appropriate identification to the polling station. Given that there are 10 questions to weigh in on, Gurney recommends that voters familiarize themselves with the ballot questions beforehand to expedite the voting process. More information regarding the questions and acceptable forms of identification can be accessed on the Elections Alberta website.
With 652,000 requests for special mail-in ballots received by the September 25 deadline, predicting the exact turnout for advance polls remains uncertain. Gurney suggests that individuals wanting to avoid long queues should consider visiting during non-peak hours, such as mid-morning or mid-afternoon.
For those who failed to return their mail-in ballots by the deadline, Elections Alberta advised mailing them no later than October 9 to ensure delivery by the 5 p.m. cutoff on October 16. Alternatively, individuals can use Canada Post Priority Post or Express Post to expedite the process. If returning the ballot via mail is not feasible, voters have the option to participate in advance polls or on the voting day.
To prevent voter fraud, Elections Alberta maintains a live record of voters to prevent double voting. Gurney assures that if a special ballot has already been received and counted, the individual will be informed. If the ballot has not been received, the voter will be allowed to cast their vote. However, if the ballot package arrives late, it will be rejected.
Amid heightened emotions and differing opinions surrounding the referendum, particularly regarding Alberta’s future within Canada, Gurney emphasizes the importance of kindness towards fellow voters and election workers. She stresses the significance of every vote and encourages a respectful and inclusive voting process.
