Elections Alberta is seeking assistance from experienced electoral staff nationwide to support the upcoming October referendum. According to Elections Alberta spokesperson Maia Hanrahan, it is a common practice for electoral management bodies to collaborate during election events. The aim is to enhance expertise and resources for critical election tasks, such as the 48-hour continuous count post-voting.
The referendum scheduled for October 19, 2026, will include 10 questions covering various topics, including the province’s status within Canada and issues related to immigration and constitutional matters. Elections Alberta has reached out to Elections BC and Elections Saskatchewan for support, with both provinces evaluating the requests based on operational requirements.
Elections Canada has also received a query from Elections Alberta regarding potential assistance for the referendum. While considering options to aid recruiting efforts, Elections Canada emphasized that any support provided would be under Elections Alberta’s direction without involvement in the referendum’s conduct.
Elections Saskatchewan has offered staff support to assist Alberta in preparing for the fall referendum. Michael Boda, chief electoral officer at Elections Saskatchewan, highlighted the professional development benefits for their team in participating in electoral events across jurisdictions.
Elections Alberta’s recruitment campaign has garnered over 30,000 applications from Albertans, progressing towards the goal of recruiting 60,000 electoral workers. However, Lorne Gibson, a former chief electoral officer in Alberta, noted challenges in securing assistance from EMB workers outside the province due to staffing limitations and associated costs.
Gibson also mentioned eligibility requirements for election officers in Alberta, including residency, Canadian work eligibility, age restrictions, and non-partisan commitments. He raised concerns about potential distractions, such as the recent byelection in Calgary-Shaw, impacting referendum preparations.
