Elections Alberta spokesperson Maia-Lys Hanrahan reported that the agency has received 225,000 requests for mail-in ballots for the upcoming 10-question referendum, a number more than triple the 60,000 special ballots requested in the last general election. The referendum will take place on October 19 and voters can apply for mail-in ballots by October 9. Elections Alberta plans to hire at least 60,000 workers to hold the vote, but so far has only received over 35,000 applications. The agency is seeking election officers specifically in rural areas, including Medicine Hat and Athabasca.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-07,
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Story summary
Elections Alberta is sending out special mail-in ballots to 225,000 people who requested them, as part of the province's upcoming referendum on October 19. This number is more than triple the requests received for the last general election in 2023, with 60,000 special ballots requested at that time. The referendum will ask 10 questions, including whether Albertans want to stay in Canada or have a second vote on separating from it, as well as five questions about immigration and four about constitutional reform. Albertans can still apply for a mail-in ballot by October 9.
Written for “Alberta Referendum Ballots Requested” on 2026-09-07,
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Special mail-in ballots for Alberta’s 10-question referendum next month started going out the door Tuesday, Elections Alberta said.
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Alberta → mail → door
The agency said those who have previously registered for a special ballot will soon start receiving their packages in the mail or they can pick them up in person.
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they → say → person
Spokesperson Maia-Lys Hanrahan said Elections Alberta received 225,000 requests to date for mail-in ballots.
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Alberta → say → ballots
The special ballots are designed to allow those who may not be able to go to the polls in person on Oct. 19 the opportunity to still submit their votes.
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who → design → votes
The agency said in a news release later Tuesday that the total number of requests to date is more than triple the nearly 60,000 special ballots that were requested for the province’s last general election in 2023.
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that → say → 2023
Among the questions Premier Danielle Smith’s government is putting voters is one on whether Albertans want to stay in Canada or hold a second, binding vote on separating from Canada.
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Albertans → put → Canada
Albertans will also be asked five questions around the province taking more control over immigration and four on constitutional reform.
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Albertans → ask → reform
The elections agency says Albertans have until Oct. 9 to apply for a mail-in ballot and that the ballots must be received by Elections Alberta no later than Oct. 16.
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ballots → say → Oct.
The referendum is shaping up to be a massive undertaking for Elections Alberta, which has said it will need to hire at least 60,000 workers to hold the vote.
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it → shape → vote
Ms. Hanrahan said that since it launched its hiring spree in June, it has received more than 35,000 applications.
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it → say → applications
“Elections Alberta will continue to seek election officers right up until voting for the referendum,” she said.
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she → continue → referendum
She also said the agency is specifically seeking election officers for a number of rural areas, including Medicine Hat, about 300 kilometres southeast of Calgary, and Athabasca, which is about 150 km north of Edmonton.
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which → say → Edmonton
Ms. Hanrahan added that they were seeking applications “all across northern Alberta.”
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they → add → Alberta
She said Elections Alberta was coming up with a new hiring process specifically designed for groups of people, such as “your hockey team, community group, choir, or even the group chat” and that more details would be available soon.
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details → say → team
The agency is also bringing in help from other provincial election organizations, a practice it says is normal for all major voting events.
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it → bring → events
Ms. Hanrahan didn’t provide a number but said a small group of professionals from across the country will be providing relief for Elections Alberta’s fewer than 50 permanent staff come voting day.
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group → provide → day
“This assistance will allow us to cover shift-work spanning the 60 consecutive hour period from the beginning of election day through to the end of the count,” she said.
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she → allow → count
