Alberta’s provincial referendum is scheduled for October 19, 2026, where voters will be asked to weigh in on ten questions spanning immigration, constitutional reform, and splitting up the country.
- We’re asking Albertans to vote Remain (Option 1) and to vote No on the nine awful questions. Learn more about why here.
To participate, you must be a Canadian citizen, at least 18 years of age, and ordinarily resident in Alberta on polling day.
When heading out to vote, you will encounter a unique ballot structure because each of the ten questions will be presented on its own separate, colour-coded and numbered ballot. Voters must show accepted identification proving their identity and physical address, such as a government-issued photo ID or two pieces of approved identification, unless voting under specific exempted circumstances like mobile voting in designated facilities.
There are more than 50 forms of identification you can use to vote. You can look at the different options here (the person writing this blog post has previously voted in past elections using his recent electricity bill paired with his apartment lease).
While traditional in-person options are available—including advance voting from October 13 to October 17 and traditional voting stations open from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Election Day—voters are strongly encouraged to utilize special ballots (voting by mail). Opting for a special ballot is a highly convenient choice that eliminates the hassle of navigating long queues, fitting specific polling hours into your schedule, or worrying about travel disruptions.
- Request a Special Ballot with Elections Alberta: https://www.elections.ab.ca/request-a-special-ballot/
Applying for a special ballot is straightforward and accessible to all eligible electors without requiring an excuse.
You can easily request your mail-in package online by visiting elections.ab.ca, emailing the office directly, or contacting your local electoral division’s returning office. Applications to vote by mail remain open until October 9, 2026, though submitting your request early ensures your package arrives with ample time to complete the process.
Once your special ballot package arrives, you can mark your choices privately at home and complete the required signed declaration with your identification. It is vital to remember that completed special ballot packages must be received by Elections Alberta via mail before 5:00 p.m. on October 16, 2026 (note that returning offices cannot accept drop-offs). Using this secure method guarantees your participation even if you cannot make it to a physical polling station.