In the wake of Alberta’s recent municipal elections, experts, including Calgary’s returning officer, attribute the long wait times and delays at polling stations to legislative changes at the provincial level. One significant change requires municipalities to establish and uphold permanent lists of eligible voters, a requirement put in place last autumn. In Calgary, voters were given until August 27 to pre-register for this list, with additional voter information provided by Elections Alberta.
For voters not on the register, the process involved filling out a form at the polling station, providing personal details like full name, address, birthdate, and a signed statement. This additional step led to extended wait times, with some polling locations experiencing queues lasting over three hours, prompting confusion among voters about the purpose of the paperwork and how the information would be utilized.
During a news briefing, Calgary’s returning officer, Kate Martin, acknowledged the impact of the new provincial regulations on the increased paperwork burden faced by voters. Martin explained that election workers had to verify individuals against the permanent electoral register or issue them a Form 13 if necessary. Even if already registered, voters had to go through the process, with additional steps required for those requesting a school trustee ballot or updating their information.
The completed forms will contribute to compiling Calgary’s permanent electors list, which will also be shared with the province. Prior to these changes, municipalities could generate voter lists based on turnout, but the recent reforms aim to establish a consistent approach across Alberta for voter eligibility verification and fraud prevention.
Despite concerns over long lines impacting voter turnout, Alberta’s minister of municipal affairs, Dan Williams, defended the changes, emphasizing that ensuring smooth municipal elections is primarily the responsibility of the municipalities themselves. Williams expressed openness to legislative adjustments based on municipal feedback.
Looking ahead, Calgary’s returning officer, Martin, hopes for communication from the province regarding potential improvements. In the absence of proactive engagement, she plans to compile insights from this election cycle to present to the province for review and consideration.