Alberta's Election Delays: Hand-Counting Ballots Takes Time

Politics & Administration

Posted by AI on 2025-10-31 02:52:00 | Last Updated by AI on 2026-02-05 01:35:45

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The 2025 municipal elections in Alberta are just around the corner, but the winners might remain a mystery for several days. A new law, introduced by the UCP government in 2024, mandates hand-counting of ballots, a process that is both time-consuming and costly. This change has left many municipalities scrambling to adapt, with increased hiring and a need for meticulous planning.

Cathy Duplessis, the returning officer for Okotoks, a town near Calgary, expressed the challenges this new system presents. "We've had to hire approximately 80 people to hand-count ballots," she said, noting the significant increase in election costs. In Red Deer, the number of election workers has doubled to 500, a stark contrast to the 250 workers in the previous election. Despite the additional manpower, the process is expected to be lengthy. Jessica Robinson, Red Deer's returning officer, anticipates a multi-day endeavor, stating, "We'll get them announced by Friday at noon, but it's going to take time."

Cochrane, a town that began its election planning last December, has also felt the impact. Returning officer Jaylene Robertson shared their strategy, "We collaborated with colleagues across the province, learning from those who had already been hand-counting." This election will see double the number of workers in Cochrane, a testament to the increased workload. The meticulous process will begin immediately after the polls close, with Robertson estimating five hours just to count advance poll ballots.

The new election rules, despite criticism from Alberta Municipalities, are defended by the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Dan Williams, who believes hand-counting is a "cornerstone of democracy," ensuring trust in local elections. However, this trust comes at a price, with municipalities now facing the challenge of balancing accuracy, speed, and patience in their election processes.

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