Alberta sees record surge in mail-in ballot requests ahead of October referendum

Elections Alberta announced that special mail-in ballot applications have topped 175,000, a number almost triple the requests recorded during the 2023 election. The increase is linked to recent changes to the Elections Act that ended the province’s “Vote Anywhere” advanced-voting option and broadened who can apply for a special ballot, removing the need to cite a specific reason. Applications opened in July and remain available until Oct. 9, with ballots to be mailed out starting Sept. 1 and must be returned by Oct. 16.

The upcoming Oct. 19 referendum will feature ten questions, including topics on immigration, constitutional matters, and a potential second vote on Alberta’s separation. Analysts say the length and complexity of the questions, along with concerns about polling-station wait times, are prompting more voters to choose mail-in voting. Maia Hanrahan of Elections Alberta and chief electoral officer Gordon McClure highlighted the procedural changes, while Mount Royal University political scientist Lori Williams expects the trend to continue as public debate intensifies.