Some Albertans who received mail-in ballots for the province's fall referendum are expressing concern over a self-declaration requirement that appears on the front page of their voting package, which states that voters must declare they cannot vote in person or face penalties up to $50,000 and two years' imprisonment. Elections Alberta has stated that this language is outdated and does not apply to the referendum, and that voters can simply cross out the offending line to complete the ballot. According to some recipients of the mail-in ballots, including Edmonton voters Emma Wilkins and Lynn Zwicky, the requirement may deter others from casting their votes. The self-declaration in question was reportedly included in error, as Elections Alberta had stated in July that no reason or excuse was required for requesting a mail-in ballot.
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Some voters alarmed by self-declaration requirement on mail-in ballots for Alberta referendum
Elections Alberta says requirement scrapped, voters can cross out line in question
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voters → mail → question
Some Albertans who received their mail-in ballots for the province's fall referendum say they were surprised and concerned by a self-declaration requirement they saw on the front page of their voting package and fear it could deter others from casting their votes.
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it → receive → votes
Emma Wilkins said when she opened her special ballot Wednesday evening, she was shocked to see one of the self-declaration requirements — with a warning — on the first page.
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she → say → page
“I feel really like I don't know what to do next, and [I’m] disheartened,” the Edmonton voter said.
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voter → know → what
The special ballot package she received says voters are required to declare they aren’t able to vote at an in-person polling station before or on election day before they fill out the mail-in ballots.
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they → receive → ballots
It says the penalty for a false declaration could be a fine of up to $50,000 or imprisonment of up to two years, or both.
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penalty → say → years
Elections Alberta says while voters still need to self-declare things like that they are Canadian citizens and are 18 or older, the language seen in the voting packages about not being able to vote in person doesn't apply to the Oct. 19 referendum.
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language → say → referendum
But some voters CBC News spoke with who received the packages say they are still anxious about what they saw.
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they → speak → what
“We're supposed to go through a free and fair election process and this is feeling really unfair right now," Wilkins said.
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Wilkins → suppose → process
She said she applied for a mail-in ballot in July, as she anticipated long lines at polling stations on referendum day.
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she → say → day
In July, Elections Alberta issued a news release about special ballot packages, saying there will be no requirement for a voter to provide an excuse for asking for a mail-in ballot.
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voter → issue → ballot
On Thursday, Elections Alberta addressed concerns about the self-declaration in a news release, which said it was “carryover language from a previous version of the Election Act which required reasons to apply for a special ballot.”
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which → address → ballot
The organization said it will accept mail-in ballots if voters cross out the line that reads, “I declare that I am unable to vote at an advance voting place or a voting place on Election Day,” and then complete the rest of the declaration.
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I → say → declaration
Wilkins said she wonders what this inapplicable self-declaration request could mean for voters.
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request → say → voters
“I don’t know how this could have been missed, I mean it is such a massive mistake, not to mention with so much cost,” she said.
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she → know → cost
“Eventually, it trickles down to taxpayers.
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it → trickle → taxpayers
On such a crucial election to make such a large mistake, it’s very surprising.”
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it → make → mistake
Lynn Zwicky is another Edmonton voter who expressed the same concerns about her special ballot.
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who → express → ballot
She said she worries the warning about potential penalties may keep some voters from going through with filling out their mail-in ballots.
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warning → say → ballots
“I wonder how many people have special ballots like me and have a problem with the declaration,” she said.
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she → wonder → declaration
“Will they be scared off?
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they → scar → ?
And if they're scared off, then they won't vote.”
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they → scar → ?
Zwicky said she also applied for a special ballot to get ahead of long lines.
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she → say → lines
She said the referendum appears to her to be quite complicated, with voters having to submit answers to all 10 questions on separate ballots.
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voters → say → ballots
She said she believes it’s crucial for Albertans to be proactive about understanding the questions ahead of the vote.
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Albertans → say → vote
As of Tuesday, Elections Alberta said it had recorded 225,000 requests for mail-in ballots.
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it → say → ballots
That number is nearly four times the 59,589 special ballots requested for the 2023 provincial election.
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number → request → election
Wilkins said she believes things could get complicated if voters feel hesitant to go forward with the self-declaration on the special ballot and then debate whether to go in person to vote.
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voters → say → person
“I think it's another reinforcement that this is an extremely burdensome process that's created so much stress,” she said.
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she → think → stress
“At the end of the day, it's voters who are also feeling the brunt of it and may not be able to vote, even when they want to.”
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they → feel → it
Elections Alberta has moved up the deadline to apply for special ballots to Sept. 25.
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Alberta → move → Sept.
Gordon McClure, Alberta's chief electoral officer, said Thursday voters can apply for and return ballots within Elections Alberta's allotted time frame.
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voters → say → frame
The referendum, which asks questions on issues related to immigration, the Constitution and whether Alberta should remain a part of Canada or begin the process of holding a binding vote on whether to separate, will take place on Oct. 19.
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Alberta → ask → Oct.
