Referendum special-ballot mailing deadline nears

Crowsnest Pass residents voting by mail in Alberta’s provincial referendum are being encouraged to return their completed ballots by Oct. 9 to ensure they arrive before the legislated deadline.

Completed special-ballot packages must be received by Elections Alberta no later than 5 p.m. on Oct. 16. The deadline is based on when the package arrives, not when it is mailed.

More than 652,000 special-ballot applications had been approved and sent to voters as of Sept. 29. Elections Alberta received approximately 658,000 applications in total, with more than 5,700 rejected because of ineligibility, duplicate requests, invalid addresses or other incomplete information.

More than 131,000 completed packages had been returned and validated by the same date.

Elections Alberta attributed the unusually high number of applications to changes that removed the requirement for voters to provide a reason for requesting a special ballot, the elimination of the province’s previous vote-anywhere option and the number of questions appearing on the ballot.

Voters returning special ballots must include a copy of accepted identification and complete the required declaration. Packages missing either item cannot be accepted.

Elections Alberta may attempt to contact a voter to obtain missing documents, but the ballot will be rejected if the information is not received.

Voters should not mail original identification. A photocopy, scan or photograph is sufficient, and only the front of an identification card is required. The information must be clear and legible.

Anyone who applied for a special ballot can use the tracking link provided in their confirmation email to check whether the package has been received and their voting record updated.

If a special ballot is not received and accepted before the deadline, the elector may still vote in person during advance voting or on referendum day. The provincial voting register is updated as special ballots arrive to prevent anyone from voting more than once.

Advance voting will take place from Oct. 13 to 17. Referendum day is Monday, Oct. 19.

Crowsnest Pass is part of the Livingstone-Macleod electoral division. Residents can find their advance and referendum-day voting locations using the Where to Vote tool on the Elections Alberta website or the information printed on their Where to Vote card.

On referendum day, voters must attend their assigned location. During advance voting, electors may vote at any advance location within Livingstone-Macleod.

Eligible voters must be Canadian citizens, at least 18 years old on Oct. 19 and ordinarily resident in Alberta. Online voter registration remains open until Oct. 9, although eligible residents can also register at a voting location with accepted identification.

Albertans will be asked to vote on 10 separate referendum questions.

The first five address immigration, eligibility for provincially funded programs, waiting periods and fees for some temporary residents, and whether proof of Canadian citizenship should be required to vote in provincial elections.

Four constitutional questions ask about provincial involvement in selecting superior court judges, abolishing the Senate, allowing provinces to opt out of federal programs without losing funding and giving provincial laws priority in certain areas of shared jurisdiction.

The final question asks voters to choose between Alberta remaining a province of Canada and beginning the legal process required to hold a binding referendum on separation.

Questions one through nine will be answered with a yes or no. The final question gives voters two choices. In-person ballots will be numbered and colour-coded, while mail-in ballots are white.

Due to the number of questions, Elections Alberta has up to 48 hours after voting closes to complete the unofficial count. The question concerning Alberta’s place in Canada will be counted first at each voting location.

Elections Alberta has also received almost 62,000 applications from people interested in working during the referendum and hired approximately 37,500 election officers. Several rural electoral divisions were still seeking workers as of Oct. 1.

Applicants must complete a criminal-record check, take an oath and comply with Elections Alberta’s rules governing political activity.