Alberta voters uneasy over self-declaration clause in mail-in ballot packages
Some Albertans say a self-declaration statement printed on their mail-in ballot kits caused confusion and worry ahead of the Oct. 19 referendum.
Alberta residents who applied for mail-in ballots for the fall referendum encountered a self-declaration requirement on the first page of their voting kit, prompting confusion and concern. The form asked voters to affirm they were unable to vote at a polling place, a statement that carries a potential fine of up to $50,000 or two years in prison if false. Elections Alberta later explained that the language is a carry-over from an older version of the Election Act and does not apply to the Oct. 19 referendum; voters can simply cross out the line and proceed.
Despite the clarification, some voters worry the penalty warning may discourage mail-in voting. The agency has logged roughly 225,000 mail-in ballot requests, nearly four times the number from the 2023 provincial election, and has advanced the application deadline to Sept. 25. Chief electoral officer Gordon McClure affirmed that ballots can be submitted within the established timeframe.
