Alberta referendum vote set for Monday with 10 questions on separation, immigration, constitution

Albertans vote Monday, October 19 on a 10-question referendum that includes whether the province should remain in Canada or pursue a binding secession referendum.

Advance voting wrapped Saturday at 8 p.m. after running October 13-17, with hundreds of thousands of ballots cast. Wednesday was the busiest day, with 186,742 ballots cast. Approximately 222,600 mail-in ballots were requested — a significant spike attributed to a new rule allowing any voter to request one, tighter rules on where people may vote, high interest in the referendum, and the number of questions.

Polling stations open Monday at 9 a.m. and close at 8 p.m., though stations will remain open past closing time if lineups exist. Polling stations are available across the province. Elections Alberta estimates about two minutes per voter to complete the ballot.

Voters need one government-issued ID with correct name, current address, and photo; or two pieces of ID both with full name, one showing current address. Elections Alberta accepts various forms of ID including library cards, hunting licences, bank statements, and vehicle registration — even expired certificates of Indian Status. Unregistered voters can sign a declaration confirming eligibility.

Elections Alberta will count Question 10 — whether Alberta should remain in Canada — first and report results between 1 and 4 a.m. on October 20. Results for the other nine questions will follow within 48 hours of polls closing.

As advance voting closed, final campaign rallies took place. The Alberta Federation of Labor held rallies across the province Saturday, including in Calgary outside city hall, where hundreds gathered to campaign for Canadian unity and protest the UCP government. AFL President Gil McGowan and secretary-treasurer Cori Longo led the Calgary rally, which moved through downtown toward McDougall. An Okotoks rally was cancelled last-minute due to heavy winds. A Let Alberta Decide independence rally scheduled for 3 p.m. outside the Alberta Legislature Building in Edmonton was delayed due to weather, with 10 scheduled speakers including lawyer Keith Wilson, co-chair of Let Alberta Decide and head of the Alberta Transition Council formed to plan for secession.