Voters enter a polling station to vote in the federal election in Oshawa, Ont., on Sept. 20, 2021. Geoff Robins/AFP via Getty Images
Alberta’s separation referendum has seen high early voter engagement, with more than 360,000 ballots cast at advance polls over the past two days.
Elections Alberta says 174,532 voters went to the polls on the first day of advance voting on Oct. 13. The second day saw even more voters cast their ballots. Elections Alberta told The Epoch Times 186,742 citizens voted on Oct. 14 ahead of the official Oct. 19 vote.
A total of 361,274 votes have been cast across both days of advance polling.
An agency representative says these figures surpass the daily average of nearly 152,000 people who participated during the early voting period of the 2023 provincial election.
Media relations officer Michelle Gurney said a few polling stations extended their hours to serve voters who were still waiting in line, including one that stayed open until 11 p.m., a full three hours beyond its scheduled closing time.
The province also experienced unprecedented demand for mail-in ballots last month, the agency said, adding that two-thirds of the approximately 658,000 special ballots requested have been completed and returned by voters.
The early numbers back up Elections Alberta’s early predictions of record voter participation in Premier Danielle Smith’s 10-question referendum, which features one on whether the province should hold a second, binding vote on leaving Canada.
The question reads, “Should Alberta remain a province of Canada or should the Government of Alberta commence the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on whether or not Alberta should separate from Canada?”
The remaining nine questions cover topics such as increased provincial control over immigration, the selection of provincial court judges, eligibility for provincially funded services for temporary residents, and the balance of provincial and federal powers. Another question asks whether the provincial government should work with other provinces to amend the Constitution to abolish the unelected Senate.
Smith announced in a video posted to social media on Oct. 14 that she had cast her advance ballot in favour of Alberta remaining in Canada and urged her fellow voters to follow suit.
The premier said voters should not “give up hope” on staying in Canada, and encouraged them to send a message to Ottawa by voting yes on the remaining nine referendum questions.
Smith has said while she and her caucus support Alberta remaining in Canada, they will accept the referendum’s result regardless of the outcome.
Elections Alberta has said the referendum outcomes will be published within 48 hours of the polls closing. Official results will be released Oct. 29.
The Canadian Press contributed to this report.