Over 652,000 special ballot referendum packages sent out to Alberta electors
Published 1:55 pm Thursday, October 1, 2026
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Elections Alberta completed processing just over 658,000 special ballot applications, and over 652,000 were approved and sent to electors as of Sept. 29.
Over 5,700 applications were rejected due to a variety of reasons, including elector ineligibility, duplicate requests, invalid addressing or other information.
The final batch of special ballots have been sent for production and mailing. Electors should receive them in the coming days, or be notified to pick them up from the returning office if they requested that delivery option.
Elections Alberta said how long it will take for electors to receive the ballots will depend on the distance they are being mailed and the accuracy of the address provided by electors. All international destination requests have been sent out via courier.
More than 131,000 completed special ballot packages have been returned to Elections Alberta, validated, and those electors marked as voted.
Electors can track the status of their special ballots using the link in the confirmation sent to them when they applied. Tracking will show if and when the returned special ballot package has been received and the voting register updated.
Electors are reminded that if their special ballot package does not contain copies of accepted ID or the declaration, it cannot be accepted. Elections Alberta will attempt to contact those electors to receive these documents. Special ballots will be rejected if Elections Alberta does not receive the documents, and those electors can vote in person during advance voting or on Election Day.
Electors are warned not to send their original ID in their special ballot package. Send a photocopy, scan, or photo only. Black and white copies will be accepted. Only a copy of the front of identification cards is necessary. Information must be clear and legible. If ID like a utility bill is used, electors may black out their utility account number and usage/billing information.
Elections Alberta will make every effort to return physical, original identification to electors using a secure, delivery-tracked method.
It is the elector’s responsibility to ensure their completed special ballot is received by the deadline. Canada Post strongly recommends mailing special ballot packages back to Elections Alberta by Oct. 9 to ensure they are received by the 5 p.m. deadline on Election Day, Oct. 19.
If a special ballot package is not received and approved by Elections Alberta by the deadline, electors may vote during advance voting or in person on Oct. 19. The voting register is updated in real time to reflect when a special ballot has been received to ensure that electors cannot vote more than once. Electors should check their tracking information to confirm their ballots have been received and marked as voted.
Where to Vote cards were mailed out to electors starting Sept. 21 and distribution should be completed by early October. Electors may also find their advance voting and assigned Election Day voting locations at map.elections.ab.ca.
Voter registrations will be accepted using the online voter registration tool until Oct. 9. Eligible electors may also register to vote in person at their local returning office, by contacting Elections Alberta’s Service Centre for assistance, or registering when they go to vote at the voting location.
If eligible electors have voted in previous provincial elections and have not moved, changed their name, or requested removal from the List of Electors, they are already registered to vote.
So far almost 62,000 applications have been received from people wanting to work the election, with 37,500 election officers hired. Several electoral divisions, particularly in smaller, more sparsely populated rural areas need more qualified applicants to complete their teams.
A variety of positions are required and include paid training. Albertans 16 years of age and older are encouraged to apply at www.elections.ab.ca/jobs. Elections Alberta also has a program for groups, such as teams and volunteer organizations, that want to work together for the referendum and fundraise for their group.
Electors who have questions or need assistance can contact the Alberta Elections’ Service Centre at 1-877-422-VOTE (8683), open from 8:15 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays, 8:15 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends, and 8:15 a.m. to 8 p.m. on voting days.
Elections Alberta’s website — elections.ab.ca — also has information on voter eligibility; how ballots are counted for in-person voting and special ballots; a link to unofficial results which will be live after all voting locations are closed on election night; accessible voting options, and more.