More than 3,000 mail-in ballots rejected for errors ahead of Alberta referendum

More than 3,000 mail-in ballots have been returned with errors that make them invalid ahead of Alberta's October 19 referendum on separation, Elections Alberta announced.

Of the more than 652,000 ballot packages sent out, about one third have been verified so far. Invalid ballots are missing declaration forms, contain errors in declaration forms, or have identification issues. Elections Alberta says voters can submit correct information via email to fix their ballots.

The referendum will ask two questions: whether Alberta should remain in Canada, and whether to begin a process for a second, binding referendum on leaving Confederation.

Elections Alberta is working to hire staff for the vote: more than two-thirds of the 60,000 election workers needed have been hired so far. If approved, the revised rates would take effect January 1, 2027, with related budgets and bylaw changes coming through November's budget process.

As HOC reported in September, Elections Alberta clarified mail-in ballot language for the referendum and warned of voter registration misinformation ahead of the vote.