Alberta gets 658,000 mail-in ballot requests for Oct. 19 referendum
Elections Alberta says roughly 100,000 of those who requested special ballots have already voted ahead of the vote on separation and nine other questions.
Why it matters
The surge in early voting signals unusually high public engagement with the referendum on Alberta's place in Confederation.
Elections Alberta says it has received about 658,000 requests for mail-in ballots for the Oct. 19 referendum, 11 times more than the roughly 60,000 requests filed during the 2023 provincial election. Of those who requested special ballots, about 100,000 electors have already cast their votes.
The figures come after the deadline to request a mail-in ballot passed at midnight on Friday. Elections Alberta says all special ballots must be returned by 5 p.m. on Oct. 16.
The referendum asks Albertans to weigh in on 10 questions put forward by Premier Danielle Smith's government, including whether the province should remain in Canada or hold a second, binding vote on leaving Confederation.
This report is based on information from The Canadian Press, first published Sept. 28, 2026.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.