In Alberta’s municipal elections on Monday, long lineups and slow processing times were attributed to recent provincial legislation changes, according to political experts and Calgary’s returning officer. One of the alterations requires municipalities to establish and maintain permanent electors registers, listing eligible voters. In Calgary, voters had until August 27 to pre-register or were included based on information from Elections Alberta.
Those not on the list had to complete a form at polling stations, disclosing personal details like full name, address, birthdate, and a signed statement. This additional step caused delays, with some stations experiencing queues exceeding three hours. Calgary’s returning officer, Kate Martin, acknowledged the impact of the new regulations on the voting process, noting workers had to verify registrations against the permanent electoral register or issue Form 13 if necessary.
Updating voter information for changes in name or address also contributed to extended processing times. The collected forms will be used to compile Calgary’s permanent electors list, which will be shared with the province. Before these changes, municipalities could create their own voter lists based on turnout, but the province’s aim is uniformity and fraud prevention.
Despite complaints of long wait times prompting some voters to skip voting altogether, Alberta’s Minister of Municipal Affairs defended the changes. Minister Dan Williams stated that ensuring smooth municipal elections is the responsibility of the municipalities, and the province is open to adjusting legislation based on municipal feedback. Calgary’s returning officer hopes for communication from the province or plans to provide feedback on this election for review.
