Deadline moved up as demand surges for Alberta referendum mail-in ballots

Alberta election officials have moved up the deadline to apply for mail-in ballots for the upcoming referendum after a sharp increase in demand from voters seeking to cast their ballots early.

Elections Alberta announced Thursday that applications for special mail-in ballots have surged, with approximately 65,000 new requests submitted since Tuesday. The latest increase brings the total number of applications to about 290,000, according to Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Dallas Stoesz.

The figure is nearly five times higher than the roughly 60,000 mail-in ballot requests received during Alberta's 2023 provincial election, highlighting unprecedented interest in the referendum on whether Albertans want to hold a binding vote on separation.

The surge has prompted Elections Alberta to move the application deadline forward to Sept. 25 — two weeks earlier than the originally advertised deadline of Oct. 9.

The agency said the earlier deadline is intended to ensure there is enough time to process the record number of mail ballots ahead of voting day.

Elections Alberta also released new turnout projections, saying polling suggests voter participation could reach 85 per cent. If realized, it would set a new provincial record, surpassing the 81.8 per cent turnout recorded in Alberta's 1935 general election.