More than 500,000 residents of Alberta have submitted applications for mail-in voting in the forthcoming referendum, as confirmed by Elections Alberta. A spokesperson from the agency informed CBC News on Thursday that over 509,000 requests for special ballots have been received, with just eight days remaining for voters to opt for this mode of voting.
The surge in demand for mail-in voting has been evident for some time leading up to the referendum scheduled for October 19. The number of requests received thus far surpasses the approximately 60,000 special ballots requested during the 2023 provincial election by more than eightfold.
The upcoming October 19 referendum will comprise 10 questions covering various topics. Of significant note is a question regarding whether Alberta should maintain its status within Canada or initiate the process for a binding referendum on secession by the provincial government.
Elections Alberta has also been coordinating with correctional facilities to facilitate voting for inmates through mail-in ballots. While the exact number of inmate requests for the referendum ballots remains undisclosed, over 400 incarcerated individuals applied to vote in the 2023 election.
With nearly three million eligible voters in Alberta, Elections Alberta estimates that about 17% of voters have indicated their preference to vote by mail in this election. In comparison, the voter turnout for the previous provincial referendum in 2021 was around 39%.
In preparation for referendum day, Elections Alberta has been actively recruiting electoral workers to fulfill the required staffing levels. Initially targeting 60,000 electoral workers, the agency has launched a recruitment drive and sought assistance from electoral management bodies in other regions of Canada.
As of Thursday, close to 48,000 individuals have applied to serve as election officers. However, Elections Alberta is still in the process of ensuring sufficient staff in each electoral division, particularly in constituencies such as Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock, West Yellowhead, and others listed by the spokesperson. The agency intends to continue accepting applications for election officers until the commencement of voting on referendum day.
