Referendum unofficial count update

October 24, 2026

EDMONTON – Elections Alberta is providing an update on the unofficial count and delays in reporting. The vast majority of unofficial results have been reported, but specific and exceptional challenges have delayed reporting in several areas.

Delays in receiving and recording unofficial counts are due to procedural errors made in voting places on Election Day. Multiple voting areas, which are smaller divisions within an electoral division, can be served by a single voting place. Legislative changes made in 2025 require results for Election Day voting to be reported by voting area, rather than by voting place. To support this change and make that reporting possible, all voting place election officers were provided with, trained, and instructed to use one full set of ballot boxes for each voting area served in that voting place. There were many as 11 voting areas in a single voting place.

Several voting places across the province used one set of ballot boxes for all voting areas. Elections Alberta Returning Officers’ teams are able to separate most of the ballots based on the initials of the election officer who issued the ballot, which are contained on the back of each ballot. This is a very time-consuming process. The legislated requirement to hand-count all votes means this process is entirely manual.

In some locations, it is impossible to separate the votes by voting areas, and therefore, counts for all voting areas are combined in a single voting area to report results for that voting place. It is important to note that regardless of whether results are reported by voting area or voting place, all ballots are accounted for, and all votes are included in the results.

In other locations, the returning office teams have been able to separate the ballots and are completing the counts and will report unofficial results by voting area.

It is important to note: all voting places that followed correct procedures were able to report their unofficial results within the 48-hour legislated timeframe. All voting places have been able to report some unofficial results. These delays are not a result of insufficient counting staff.

As counts for each question are completed, the vote count will change on the results reporting website. If a voting place has reported some results (i.e. a count is completed and entered for at least one referendum question), the system recognizes there are results for that voting place and will display it as having results reported. This is why the reporting website shows 99%. However, as counts for each voting place and voting area are completed, the total vote count will continue to change.

A notice will be posted on Elections Alberta’s social media on all platforms when the unofficial count is complete.

Once the unofficial count is completed, Returning Officers and their teams complete official verification, where all Statements of Vote and documentation are reviewed for accuracy. If necessary, recounts will be conducted if the reporting information cannot be reconciled. This is a normal part of the electoral process to get to official results.

Election Alberta recognizes and commends our Returning Officers’ teams and counting teams for their dedication and perseverance throughout these long days of additional effort to provide count results as legislated, and to ensure the counts and required reporting are completed with accuracy and integrity. They have gone above and beyond, with little or no rest, in incredibly difficult circumstances.

Elections Alberta will be making recommendations for legislative amendments related to the requirements to hand-count all ballots and timelines for reporting results for referendums.

Elections Alberta is an independent, non-partisan office of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta responsible for administering provincial elections, by-elections, and referendums.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Media Relations
Phone: 403.431.5974
Email: [email protected]

Posted in: General