Former chief electoral officer says mail rule blocked his referendum ballot

Glen Resler, Alberta's former chief electoral officer, says he has effectively lost his right to vote in the province's separation referendum after his mailed special ballot failed to arrive in time. He says Canada Post could no longer guarantee delivery before the deadline when he tried to send it back last week.

Resler says he attempted to deliver the ballot in person at Elections Alberta's Edmonton office but was turned away, with staff citing provincial law requiring special ballots to be returned by mail. He says he was told to use advance polls instead, but that wasn't possible because he was leaving town.

Resler argues the chief electoral officer has discretion under a legal clause to permit in-person delivery but is refusing to exercise it, which he says disenfranchises voters like him. Elections Alberta says it only accepts special ballots in person or by courier when voters cannot reasonably access mail service, a provision it understands applies mainly to remote areas.

Elections Alberta says the mail-only rule was introduced by the province last year and acknowledges it creates a barrier for voters, saying it hopes the government will consider changes in the future.