Elections Alberta has reported a significant surge in requests for special ballots for the upcoming Oct. 19 referendum. Over 650,000 special ballot requests have been received, with nearly 100,000 ballots already returned and approved for voting. The agency expects the total number of requests to slightly change as all final requests before the Sept. 25 deadline are processed.
Maia Hanrahan, a spokesperson for Elections Alberta, mentioned that they are currently handling a high volume of requests, with around 35,000 applications still pending approval. This surge in requests is a notable increase compared to the 2023 provincial general election, where just over 59,000 special ballot requests were received.
Approximately 82% of special ballot requests have been approved for fulfillment and mailing, while 0.7% have been rejected either during the application process or upon return. Elections Alberta attributes the increase in requests to the expanded eligibility for special ballots, allowing more people to apply without providing a specific reason.
The referendum, featuring 10 questions including one on Alberta’s potential secession from Canada, has sparked significant voter interest and engagement. The deadline for mailing special ballots is Oct. 16, and voters are encouraged to track their ballots online to ensure they are received in time.
The surge in special mail-in ballots is expected to ease pressure on polling stations during the election. However, there is also concern about a potential increase in rejected ballots due to common errors that may occur when voters complete their ballots at home without the assistance typically available at polling stations.
Elections Alberta is working diligently to process the influx of special ballot requests and ensure a smooth voting process for all eligible electors participating in the referendum.