Election Facts and False Statements

In the table below, we correct the most common misconceptions related to electoral events in Alberta. Some of these come directly to our staff as questions, and some we have found to be circulating online.

If you have a question about electoral events in Alberta, Elections Alberta processes, or any of the legislation that guides our work, contacting our team is always your best option. We take pride in responding to all the inquiries we receive.

Last updated May 25, 2026

False Statement	Correct Statement
Elections Alberta is not enforcing the rules for citizen initiatives and recall campaigns.	All citizen initiative and recall campaigns have been conducted according to the relevant legislation in force at the time. Several amendments have been made to the legislation since July 4, 2025, adding or removing requirements. This in no way suggests campaigns and verifications conducted before or after those changes were enacted are less accurate or credible.
People have committed acts of fraud when signing citizen initiatives and recall campaigns.	Elections Alberta’s petition verification process specifically looks for fraud. No fraud has been detected on any petition during any completed petition verification process. Should there be any indication of potential fraud in a petition, validation and verification will be expanded accordingly.
Electoral event results cannot be trusted because Elections Alberta uses different counting processes for each citizen initiative or recall petition.	The petition validation, count, and verification processes are consistently applied by Elections Alberta and reflect the requirements of the relevant legislation. This includes reviewing every signature on every sheet and contacting a statistically valid random sampling of electors who signed petition sheets to verify their information.
Elections Alberta sends out canvassers you meet at your door or in public.	Our office and staff are not involved in and do not attend canvassing or events supporting or opposing any petition campaign, political campaign, or political candidate. Elections Alberta does not endorse any canvassing efforts, but merely registers canvassers on behalf of candidates, campaigns, and proponents and ensures they follow canvassing rules.
Petition canvassers don’t need to identify themselves and are not accountable to anyone.	Petition proponents and applicants are responsible for sending canvasser applications to Elections Alberta for registration and processing canvasser ID. Elections Alberta sends out approved canvasser ID within 3 business days of receipt of complete applications from proponents via Canada Post XpressPost. If canvassers have not received their ID in a timely manner, they should contact the proponent to determine the status of their application.
People can sign any signature sheet and this allows for fraud.	Proponents and applicants are sent the approved official signature sheet template at the beginning of their campaign and are responsible for providing canvassers with the approved petition signature sheets.
Elections Alberta represents proponents and applicants and answers questions about campaigns.	Proponents and applicants are solely responsible for answering canvassers’ and the public’s questions about their campaign during the canvassing period.
Canvassers are bribing people to provide their signatures with food, drink and entertainment.	Canvassers providing refreshments or entertainment is not an inducement unless they require individuals to sign a petition to receive refreshment or entertainment. However, expenses related to providing food, beverages, and entertainment must be reported by petition proponents and applicants.
Elections Alberta makes changes to election legislation at their leisure.	The Government of Alberta establishes electoral legislation in the province and is the only body that can make changes to legislation. Elections Alberta is an independent, non-partisan office of the Legislative Assembly, responsible for administering provincial elections, by-elections and referendums. Elections Alberta must follow the rules laid out in the legislation. Our office does not write or establish the legislation.