How to Vote by Mail
Electors may choose to vote in any provincial electoral event by mail. This is an excellent option for voters who will be away from their ordinary residence in Alberta during advance voting or on Election Day for work, school, military service, vacation, travel, or any other reason, or who do not want to vote in person.
Apply for a Special Ballot
You may submit your request to receive a special ballot online, by phone, or by email.
You may choose to:
- Have the ballot package sent to you,
- Pick the ballot package up at your local Returning Office in your electoral division or at Elections Alberta in Edmonton during regular office hours – Monday through Friday 8:15am to noon and 1:00pm to 4:30pm, or
- Arrange for a designate to pick the ballot package up from the local electoral division returning office or at Elections Alberta in Edmonton during regular office hours – Monday through Friday 8:15am to noon and 1:00pm to 4:30pm.
Voting Process
Once you have received your package, follow the steps below to vote.
1. Review the package and the instructions
Make sure that you have received:
- A special ballot
- A ballot envelope (Envelope A)
- A return envelope (Envelope B)
- A special ballot declaration
- A list of authorized identification
- Instructions for how to complete your Special Ballot
2. For an election, write in the name of the candidate, the registered political party, or the leader of a registered party you wish to vote for on the ballot, legibly, in pencil or pen. For a referendum, make your choice by marking an “x” in one of the circles.
Special ballots for elections are write-in ballots. They do not contain the names of the candidates running in your electoral division. Elections Alberta will post the list of candidates as their nomination papers are accepted. Electors may wait until nominations close so they are aware of all candidates who are running before completing their ballot if they do not wish to write in a registered political party or leader of a registered political party.
3. Seal your ballot envelope.
Put your ballot in the grey ballot envelope (A) and seal the envelope.
Do not put anything else inside of this envelope.
4. Complete your special ballot declaration.
If there are any errors, please call 1-877-422-8683.
5. Make a copy of your identification
Include a copy of the front of your Alberta Driver’s License or Identification Card with your name and current physical address showing, or two pieces of identification, both of which include your name and one piece which shows your current physical address.
6. Prepare your package for return mailing
Put your ballot envelope (A), special ballot declaration, and a copy of your identification into the purple return envelope (B).
Seal the envelope.
7. Please note the deadlines for special ballots to ensure your ballot will be received on time and counted. Mail the envelope to Elections Alberta’s head office. It must be received before 5:00pm on the Friday immediately preceding Election Day.
When your special ballot package is received at Elections Alberta, an election officer will open it to confirm you have signed the declaration and sent in a copy of your identification. Once these documents are confirmed, your sealed ballot envelope will be placed in the ballot box, and you will have successfully voted by mail.
