Edmonton (Rajeev Sharma): Elections Alberta has started mailing special ballot packages to voters ahead of the province’s October 19, 2026, referendum, while reminding Albertans that several voting procedures have changed since the 2023 provincial election.
The agency said it has received about 225,000 special ballot requests, nearly four times the 59,589 requests recorded during the 2023 Provincial General Election.
Chief Electoral Officer Gordon McClure is urging voters who plan to vote by mail to apply early and return their completed packages as soon as possible. Elections Alberta must receive special ballots by 5 p.m. on October 16.
Changes voters should know
Amendments to Alberta’s Election Act that took effect in July 2025 have changed how Albertans can cast their ballots.
Voters going to the polls in person must now vote within the electoral division where they ordinarily live. The previous “vote anywhere” option is no longer available.
The rules for special ballots have also changed. Albertans no longer need to provide a reason when requesting a special ballot, making voting by mail available to more voters. However, completed special ballot packages must be sent back by mail and cannot be dropped off or completed at returning offices.
Vouching is also no longer accepted as identification. Elections Alberta says voters can instead choose from more than 50 accepted forms of identification, including attestation options.
Three ways to cast a ballot
On October 19, Election Day voting locations will operate from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters must attend the location assigned to them according to their ordinary residence.
Advance voting will run from October 13 to 17, also from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. During this period, voters can use any advance voting location within their own electoral division.
The third option is voting by special ballot. Requests can be submitted until October 9, while completed ballots must reach Elections Alberta in Edmonton by 5 p.m. on October 16.
Voters who will be outside their home electoral division because of work, school or travel during the voting period may find the special ballot option particularly important.
Ballots can be tracked
Elections Alberta is also providing voters with a way to monitor the progress of their special ballot. The tracking system can show whether a request has been received and processed, whether the package has been sent and whether the completed ballot has arrived.
Voters who provided an email address receive a tracking link electronically. Those who used a phone number are advised to save the tracking link displayed after completing their application.
If a mailed ballot does not arrive at Elections Alberta by the deadline, voters can still cast a ballot in person on October 19. The voting register is updated when a special ballot is received to prevent an individual from voting twice.
Elections Alberta seeks 60,000 election workers
Alongside preparations for the referendum, Elections Alberta is recruiting approximately 60,000 election officers. More than 35,000 applications have already been received, but additional workers are still needed in several electoral divisions.
The agency is particularly seeking applicants in areas including West Yellowhead, Fort McMurray, Medicine Hat-Cypress Hills, Taber-Warner, Cardston-Siksika, Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock and communities across northern Alberta.
Applicants must live in Alberta, be at least 16 years old, and be legally entitled to work in Canada. Some positions require applicants to be 18 or older.
With the referendum approaching, Elections Alberta is encouraging voters to familiarize themselves with the revised rules and choose their preferred voting method well before the deadlines.
