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 and provide specialized expertise during important electoral events. The additional support will be crucial, particularly after the voting period ends, to aid in the completion of tasks such as the 48-hour continuous count following a 12-hour voting day.
The referendum, scheduled for October 19, will involve Albertans answering 10 questions, including ones related to the province’s relationship with Canada and various immigration and constitutional issues. Elections BC and Elections Saskatchewan have confirmed receiving requests for assistance from Elections Alberta and are evaluating their ability to provide support. Similarly, Elections Canada is reviewing a request from Elections Alberta and considering options to assist in recruitment efforts.
Elections Saskatchewan has offered staff support to assist Alberta in conducting the referendum, emphasizing the professional development opportunities for their team. Despite the positive progress in recruitment with over 30,000 applications received from Albertans, challenges remain in ensuring adequate staffing due to limitations in resources and eligibility requirements for election officers in Alberta.
Former chief electoral officer Lorne Gibson highlighted the difficulties in recruiting external staff due to logistical and financial constraints, including travel and accommodation costs. Furthermore, the recent byelection called by Premier Danielle Smith for the Calgary-Shaw riding may pose additional challenges and distractions as Alberta prepares for the referendum with multiple complex questions to address.
