Referendum Scrutineers

The Referendum (General) Regulation, which came into force April 23, 2026, provided provisions governing scrutineer appointment requirement, conduct, duties, and numbers.

In a referendum, scrutineers represent official parties, proponent(s) of a question arising from a successful Citizen Initiative petition, and third parties at voting locations to ensure fairness and transparency and to observe election procedures and ballot counting.

Official political parties and proponents
Official political parties and proponent(s) of a question arising from a successful Citizen Initiative petition may appoint scrutineers for each voting location.

Contact an official political party or a proponent directly to volunteer. Parties and proponents are responsible for appointing scrutineers. Please do not contact Elections Alberta to volunteer as a referendum scrutineer.

Official political parties and proponent(s) must submit their list of appointed scrutineers to Elections Alberta no later than 8 weeks before referendum voting day.

Registered referendum third party advertisers
Registered referendum third party advertisers representing the Yes or No side of referendums question(s) may also appoint scrutineers by submitting a list of scrutineer names to the Chief Electoral Officer. The Chief Electoral Officer may appoint scrutineers if official parties or proponent(s) do not appoint a scrutineer or if the Chief Electoral Officer determines additional scrutineers should be appointed. Elections Alberta will determine a process for receiving scrutineer requests from third parties and determine placement. These placements will be determined based on the factors above and others, including size of voting location and balance of each side of the referendum positions.

The process for registration, selection, and voting place assignment of third party scrutineers will be posted on this website prior to the October 19, 2026, provincial referendum.
Contact a registered third party advertiser of your choice directly to volunteer. Third party advertisers are responsible for declaring their position and appointing scrutineers. Please do not contact Elections Alberta to volunteer as a third party advertiser scrutineer.

Referendum Scrutineers must:  

• Be an elector;
• Not have not been issued an administrative penalty or letter of reprimand or convicted of an offence under the Election Act, EFCDA, LAEA, or Canada Elections Act (Canada) in the previous 10 years;
• Be appointed by the official political party, proponent, or registered third party advertiser using the Appointment of Scrutineer form;
• Take an Oath of Secrecy; and
• Follow the Code of Conduct noted below and as outlined in the .

To ensure all scrutineers are an effective part of the voting process, scrutineers are encouraged to read and required to follow the Guide for Scrutineers. Please ensure you are familiar with the requirements prior to attending a voting location.

Role and Responsibilities of Referendum Scrutineers

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• Referendum Scrutineer's Code of Conduct

  As a scrutineer I shall:

  • Comply with the legislation and the Code of Conduct;
  • Present a properly completed Appointment of Scrutineer identifying all voting places I will attend;
  • Complete an Oath of Secrecy before the Site Supervisor in charge of the voting place(s) to which I have been assigned;
  • Familiarize myself with my rights and responsibilities under the law and act accordingly, after reading the Guide for Scrutineers;
  • Perform my duties with honesty and integrity and in a manner that is helpful, respectful, and courteous; and
  • Be guided at all times by the values of respect, integrity, and professionalism when dealing with members of the public, electors, election officers, colleagues, and all election participants.

  As a scrutineer, I shall not:

  • Engage in any political campaigning or promotion for or against a referendum question or position, or political party, or proponent, or third party advertiser while performing my duties at a voting place;
  • Unduly interrupt the voting process or the orderly conduct of the referendum;
  • Make or accept cell phone calls in the voting place;
  • Engage in harassing^[1] or discriminatory^[2] behaviour; or
  • Make abusive, derisive, threatening, insulting, offensive, or provocative statements or gestures to or about another person.

  A scrutineer who fails to comply with this Code of Conduct will receive a written warning concerning their actions.

  A scrutineer will be removed from the voting place if, in the opinion of the Site Supervisor, the scrutineer fails to comply with the Code of Conduct after receiving such a warning.

  ^[1]Harassment is defined as any conduct by an individual that is directed at and offensive to another person in the voting place, and that the individual knows or ought reasonably to know would cause offence or harm. It includes any objectionable act, comment or display that demeans, belittles, or causes personal humiliation or embarrassment, or any act of intimidation or threat.

  ^[2]Discrimination involves treating someone differently or unfairly because of a personal characteristic or distinction.

• Observing Referendum Procedures

  Scrutineers may arrive up to 30 minutes before a voting location opens; or, at any time before the voting location closes. The scrutineer must provide their completed appointment form to the Site Supervisor, at the correct voting place, to be granted entry.

  On approval of entry, the Site Supervisor will first confirm that the scrutineer understands the rules established in the Scrutineer Code of Conduct and have the scrutineer take the Oath of Secrecy.

  Referendum Scrutineers may:

  • Verify the ballot box is empty prior to the voting location opens;
  • Observe the election process;
  • Record elector sequence numbers on Election Day;
  • View the “Record of Electors Who Have Voted” at the end of each advance voting day, or per hour on Election Day;
  • View the voting record, at a time election officers are not processing voters;
  • Challenge an elector if the scrutineer believes the elector is not eligible to vote;
  • Observe the counting of ballots including special ballots at the place where special ballots are counted;
  • Use cell phones, tablets, or laptops while observing the election process, if:
    • No audio or video recording occurs;
    • No pictures are taken;
    • No phone calls take place; and
    • No audible sounds are played.

  If concerns arise, scrutineers may report their concerns to the Site Supervisor. If the supervisor is unable to resolve the concern, the scrutineer may escalate their concerns to their official political party, proponent or registered third party, who can address it with the Returning Officer.

  Scrutineers should not disturb the voting process to share their concerns.

  During a referendum, there cannot be more than one scrutineer for each of the official political parties and proponent(s) present at the same time at a voting station, voting place, or at each counting station.

• Observing the Count of Ballots

  Election (Referendum Voting) Day Locations
  Referendum scrutineers must arrive at their assigned voting place before it is closed and secured for the count. Any scrutineers who have not already done so will be required to sign the Code of Conduct and take the Oath of Secrecy.

  After the final electors have voted and the voting place is closed, the election officers will prepare for the count. Upon request, election officers can provide the scrutineer with a Tally Sheet to record the unofficial count. The election officers will then proceed to open the ballot box(es) and count the ballots cast for each candidate.

  During this process, scrutineers may request to view, but not touch, any ballot they wish to see. Scrutineers may also object to any decision made on how a ballot is cast. Each objection will be noted on the Notes of Objection form.

  NOTE: The Voting Officer has the final say on how a ballot is cast during this count.

  When all of the Ballots Counted for Candidate Envelopes have been sealed and placed in the large Valid Ballot Envelope, scrutineers in attendance may sign across the Valid Ballot Envelope flap before it is sealed in the ballot box for delivery to the Returning Officer. Scrutineers may also sign across the envelopes and flaps of the Unused Ballot Envelope, the Rejected Ballot Envelope, the Spoiled Ballot Envelope and the Declined Ballot Envelope.

  Upon completion of the unofficial count, scrutineers may request a copy of the Statement of Vote, which is a record of the unofficial count.

  Special Ballots
  The unofficial count for special ballots cast will be counted at on election night.

  The unofficial count for special ballots may begin 3 hours before the close of voting on Election Day. Scrutineers wishing to observe the special ballot count must arrive by 4:30pm. Anyone attending the count must not communicate with another person who is not in attendance unless voting has closed on Election Day, or they have approval from the returning officer.

  On request, election officers can provide the scrutineer with a Tally Sheet to record the unofficial count. The election officers will then proceed to open the special ballots and count the ballots cast for each question. Ballots for questions arising from a successful citizen initiative petition will be counted before all other question ballots.

  During this process, scrutineers may request to view, but not touch, any ballot they wish to see. Scrutineers may also object to any decision made on how a ballot is cast. Each objection will be noted on the Notes of Objection form.

  NOTE: The Voting Officer has the final say on how a ballot is cast during this count.

  When all of the Ballots Counted for Candidate Envelopes have been sealed and placed in the large Valid Ballot Envelope, scrutineers in attendance may sign across the Valid Ballot Envelope flap before it is sealed in the ballot box for delivery to the Returning Officer. Scrutineers may also sign across the envelopes and flaps of the Unused Ballot Envelope, the Rejected Ballot Envelope, the Spoiled Ballot Envelope and the Declined Ballot Envelope.

  Upon completion of the unofficial count, scrutineers may request a copy of the Statement of Vote, which is a record of the unofficial count.

  Mobile Voting Locations
  Mobile vote ballots will be counted at a location specified by the Returning Officer. Scrutineers must arrive at either the returning office or assigned location where mobile votes will be counted by 7:30pm. Once voting places close at 8:00pm and the unofficial count begins, only those present in the returning office or assigned location will be permitted to observe the unofficial count. Any scrutineers who have not already done so will be required to sign the Code of Conduct and take the Oath of Secrecy.

  At the close of voting on election night, the mobile vote teams and returning office staff will begin to count the mobile vote ballots. Upon request, election officers can provide the scrutineer with a Tally Sheet to record the unofficial count. The election officers will then proceed to open the ballot boxes and count the ballots cast for each candidate.

  During this process, Scrutineers may request to view, but not touch, any ballot that they wish to see. Scrutineers may also object to any decision made on how a ballot is cast. Each objection will be noted on the Notes of Objection form.

  NOTE: The Voting Officer has the final say on how a ballot is cast during this count.

  When all of the Ballots Counted for Candidate Envelopes have been sealed and placed in the large Valid Ballot Envelope, scrutineers in attendance may sign across the Valid Ballot Envelope flap before it is sealed in the ballot box for delivery to the Returning Officer. Scrutineers may also sign across the envelopes and flaps of the Unused Ballot Envelope, the Rejected Ballot Envelope, the Spoiled Ballot Envelope and the Declined Ballot Envelope.

  Upon completion of the unofficial count, scrutineers may request a copy of the Statement of Vote, which is a record of the unofficial count.

  Advance Vote Locations
  The unofficial count for advance vote locations will be completed at the returning office on election night.

  The count of advance vote ballots may begin no more than 3 hours before the closing of all voting places in an electoral division. Scrutineers wishing to observe the advance vote count must arrive by 4:30pm. Anyone attending the count must not communicate with another person who is not in attendance unless voting has closed on Election Day, or they have approval from the returning officer.

  Upon request, election officers can provide the scrutineer with a Tally Sheet to record the unofficial count. The election officers will then proceed to open the ballot boxes and count the ballots cast for each candidate.

  During this process, scrutineers may request to view, but not touch, any ballot that they wish to see. Scrutineers may also object to any decision made on how a ballot is cast. Each objection will be noted on the Notes of Objection form.

  NOTE: The Voting Officer has the final say on how a ballot is cast during this count.

  When all of the Ballots Counted for Candidate Envelopes have been sealed and placed in the large Valid Ballot Envelope, scrutineers in attendance may sign across the Valid Ballot Envelope flap before it is sealed in the ballot box for delivery to the Returning Officer. Scrutineers may also sign across the envelopes and flaps of the Unused Ballot Envelope, the Rejected Ballot Envelope, the Spoiled Ballot Envelope and the Declined Ballot Envelope.

  Upon completion of the unofficial count, scrutineers may request a copy of the Statement of Vote, which is a record of the unofficial count.

  Official Count
  Referendum ccrutineers may be present at an official count. A person allowed in the room for an official count may enter or leave the room while the count is being conducted.