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Elections Alberta reports that over 509,000 Albertans have applied to vote by mail in the upcoming October 19 referendum, which is significantly higher than the approximately 60,000 requests for special ballots during the 2023 provincial election. The referendum includes questions such as whether Alberta should remain part of Canada or seek secession, and Elections Alberta is also working to ensure incarcerated individuals can vote by mail. Additionally, the agency aims to recruit 60,000 electoral workers but has only received applications from about 48,000 people so far, with recruitment efforts ongoing for under-staffed constituencies.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-18,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
More than 509,000 Albertans have applied for mail voting in the upcoming October 19 referendum, according to Elections Alberta, with eight days left before applications close. This number is more than eight times higher than the roughly 60,000 special ballots requested during the 2023 provincial election. The referendum includes a question about whether Alberta should remain in Canada or pursue secession. Elections Alberta reports increased demand specifically from constituencies such as Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock and West Yellowhead among others. Additionally, the agency is working with jails to ensure incarcerated Albertans can also vote by mail-in ballots but did not disclose specific numbers of inmate applications.
Written for “Alberta Vote By Mail Referendum” on 2026-09-18,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 17192 · logged 2026-09-18
More than 500,000 Albertans have applied to vote by mail in referendum: Elections Alberta
asserted
Albertans → apply → referendum
Agency still looking for thousands of people to work the referendum
More than half a million Albertans have applied to vote by mail in the upcoming referendum, according to Elections Alberta.
uncertain
Albertans → look → Alberta
An agency spokesperson told CBC News Thursday it has received more than 509,000 requests for special ballots, with eight days left for electors to apply for that voting method.
asserted
electors → tell → method
Elections Alberta has known for weeks that there was greater demand to vote by mail in the referendum scheduled for Oct. 19.
asserted
Alberta → know → Oct.
But the number of requests received so far is already more than eight times greater than the roughly 60,000 special ballots requested in the 2023 provincial election.
asserted
number → receive → election
The Oct. 19 referendum features 10 questions on a variety of issues.
asserted
referendum → feature → issues
Most notably, the list includes a question about whether Alberta should remain in Canada or whether the provincial government should start the process to hold a binding referendum on secession.
asserted
government → include → secession
Elections Alberta also says it's working with jails and prisons to ensure inmates can vote.
asserted
inmates → say → jails
Incarcerated Albertans vote through mail-in ballots.
asserted
Albertans → incarcerate → ballots
The agency couldn't say how many inmates have requested ballots for the referendum, but it said just over 400 applied to vote in the 2023 election.
asserted
400 → say → election
The Correctional Service of Canada says staff have been ensuring inmates are aware of their right to vote and that posters about the upcoming referendum have been put up throughout institutions in Alberta.
asserted
posters → say → Alberta
There are almost three million eligible voters in the province, according to Elections Alberta, meaning about 17 per cent have expressed intentions to vote by mail in this election.
uncertain
cent → be → election
The last provincial referendum, in 2021, saw voter turnout of about 39 per cent.
asserted
referendum → see → cent
Elections Alberta gaining recruits
asserted
Alberta → gain → recruits
Elections Alberta is also making headway toward having the number of people it needs for referendum day.
asserted
it → make → day
The agency set out to recruit 60,000 electoral workers.
asserted
agency → set → workers
It has launched a recruitment campaign and even solicited electoral management bodies in other parts of Canada to help out.
asserted
It → launch → Canada
A spokesperson said that, as of Thursday, almost 48,000 people have applied to be election officers.
asserted
people → say → Thursday
They didn't have a total number of how many were hired.
asserted
many → have → number
Elections Alberta, however, is still working to ensure each electoral division has enough staff.
asserted
division → work → staff
The spokesperson said it needs more applications in the following constituencies:
- Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock
- West Yellowhead
- Vermilion-Lloydminster-Wainwright
- Taber-Warner
- Grande Prairie-Wapiti
- Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo
- Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche
- Cardston-Siksika
- Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul
- Peace River
- Central Peace-Notley
- Lesser Slave Lake
Elections Alberta will keep looking for election officers until voting starts on referendum day, its spokesperson said.
asserted
spokesperson → say → day
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