Edmonton (Rajeev Sharma): Elections Alberta has outlined how unofficial results from the provincial referendum will be reported, cautioning voters that the initial figures will remain subject to verification until the official results are released on October 29.
Although polling stations were scheduled to close at 8 p.m. on Monday, some locations may remain open longer to accommodate voters in line or compensate for delayed openings. Following disruptions earlier in the day, the last polling location was expected to close no earlier than 10 p.m.
The results website will go live only after Elections Alberta confirms that every voting location across the province has closed. Unofficial results will then be published in real time as counting is completed and returning offices verify and enter the figures into the reporting system.
Question 10 to be counted first
Elections Alberta said the counting process will begin with Question 10, followed by Questions 1 through 9 in numerical order.
Results will be displayed separately for each referendum question, with total vote counts for all questions combined shown at the top of the results page. Voters will also be able to access breakdowns by electoral division for further details.
Figures will be organised according to voting method, including Election Day voting, advance voting, mobile voting and special ballots. Election Day results will be reported by voting area, advance voting figures by advance polling location, mobile voting by voting place and special ballots in aggregate for each electoral division.
Hand counting to cover all ballots
All ballots cast through advance voting, special ballot voting, Election Day voting and mobile voting will be counted by hand.
Advance and special ballot counts may begin at 5 p.m. Advance voting results will be reported by voting location, while special ballot results will be compiled for each electoral division. Counting of Election Day and mobile ballots will begin after voting closes, with results released according to their respective reporting categories.
Elections Alberta reported that turnout across advance and special ballot voting was substantial. During the five-day in-person advance voting period, 837,791 votes were cast, while special ballot voting accounted for another 519,082 votes. The agency said these figures should be taken into account when following the results from those voting opportunities.
Official results due October 29
Under Alberta’s Referendum (General) Regulation, counting must be completed and unofficial results published within 48 hours of the confirmed closure of all voting locations on October 19.
However, Elections Alberta stressed that unofficial figures are not final. The time required to complete the count will depend on polling station closing times, the location of counting operations and voter turnout.
The official referendum results are scheduled to be published on October 29, 2026.
Albertans will be able to follow the live unofficial count through the Elections Alberta results website at https://results.elections.ab.ca/.
