Elections Alberta officials anticipate releasing the final vote count for Alberta’s referendum on the province’s future in Canada during the early hours following the casting of ballots. The counting process, which will prioritize a question regarding separatism, is expected to conclude between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. local time the following day, involving thousands of counters.
Polling conducted by the agency indicates that approximately 80% of eligible voters in Alberta plan to participate in the October 19 referendum, featuring 10 questions. This unprecedented event, as noted by Dallas Stoesz, deputy chief electoral officer for Elections Alberta, marks a first-time endeavor not only for Alberta but also for any other region in Canada.
To facilitate the referendum, Elections Alberta plans to produce around 45 million color-coded and numbered ballots and aims to recruit 60,000 election workers to fulfill the legal mandate of manually counting the ballots within a 48-hour timeframe. The initial questions in the referendum cover topics such as immigration, provincial funding for public services, federal-provincial jurisdiction, and Alberta’s relationship with Ottawa.
The agency will prioritize counting ballots for Question 10, with counting teams subsequently proceeding through the remaining questions in numerical order. Special ballots and advanced poll votes will be tallied starting at 5 p.m. on referendum day, with efforts to expedite the process by providing aggregated results. The full count for Question 10 votes is projected to be available between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. local time on October 20, while unofficial results for questions 1 to 9 are expected by the morning of October 21.
During the voting process, each referendum question will be presented on a separate ballot, enabling efficient and accurate handling. Based on simulations, officials estimate that voters familiar with the issues may take around two minutes to mark their ballots, with individuals requiring assistance or less familiarity potentially needing more time. Voters can deposit their completed ballots into corresponding color-coded and numbered boxes.
Moreover, over 290,000 electors have already requested special ballots, surpassing the figures from the previous provincial general election. Advanced polls will be available in electoral districts from October 13 to October 17, and Elections Alberta will provide information on poll locations through mailed “where to vote” cards and online resources. Voters have until September 25 to apply for special mail-in ballots, which must be returned by 5 p.m. local time on October 16.
Additionally, voters are not obligated to vote on all 10 questions and can decline any number of ballots, which will still be accounted for. Elections Alberta foresees a high voter turnout of 80-85%, based on polling data, contrasting the 60.5% turnout in the 2023 provincial general election. Despite the substantial ballot volume, the agency assures readiness for the referendum, with support from elections experts from other Canadian regions to ensure a smooth and successful voting process.