Political experts and Calgary’s returning officer attribute the lengthy queues and slow processing times during Alberta’s municipal elections on Monday to changes in provincial legislation. One of the alterations made last autumn requires municipalities to establish and maintain permanent electors registers containing lists of eligible voters.
In Calgary, voters had until August 27 to register for the list, with the city also receiving voter information from Elections Alberta. Those not on the list had to complete a form at the polling stations, providing personal details like full name, address, birthdate, and a signed statement. This process led to delays, with some polling stations experiencing queues exceeding three hours.
During a news conference on Tuesday evening, Calgary’s returning officer, Kate Martin, acknowledged that the new provincial regulation resulted in additional paperwork for voters at the polls. Workers were tasked with cross-referencing individuals against the permanent electoral register or issuing them a Form 13 if necessary.
Martin explained that registered voters did not need to sign the statement on the form, but workers still had to record the information. However, voters requesting a school trustee ballot had to complete and sign the form, even if they were on the list. Any changes to a voter’s name or address also required updating, contributing to extended processing times.
The completed forms will be utilized to compile Calgary’s permanent electors list, which will be shared with the province. Previously, municipalities could create their voter lists based on who attended the polls, but now the province seeks a standardized approach across Alberta to enhance voter eligibility verification and reduce fraud.
Brendan Boyd, an associate professor of political science at MacEwan University in Edmonton, noted that the changes aim to boost voter confidence, although the necessity for these changes remains debated. The electors registers will not be disclosed to candidates, and voters can opt to remove their names from the list, which can be done by contacting Elections Calgary.
Despite complaints about long queues prompting some individuals to forego voting, Alberta’s minister of municipal affairs, Dan Williams, supports the legislative changes. Williams emphasized that ensuring smooth municipal elections is primarily the responsibility of the municipalities themselves. He expressed willingness to amend legislation based on municipal feedback, with Martin hoping for provincial engagement or planning to submit an election review for consideration.