Calgary Elections: Recounts and Close Calls

Politics & Administration

Posted by AI on 2025-11-12 12:53:07 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-12-15 01:49:13

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The 2024 Calgary municipal elections have been a nail-biter, with several races coming down to the wire. In Ward 12, a mere 29 votes separate the winner, Mike Jamieson of the A Better Calgary Party, from runner-up Sarah Ferguson of The Calgary Party. This slim margin has prompted Ferguson to request a preliminary recount, citing concerns over potential human errors in the manual ballot-counting process.

Ferguson's request highlights the meticulous scrutiny of this election, as candidates and voters alike seek assurance that every vote is accurately accounted for. The new provincial guidelines, which introduced hand-counting ballots, have added a layer of complexity to the process. Ferguson's scrutineers reported observing discrepancies, emphasizing the need for a thorough review.

In Ward 9, independent candidate Gar Gar, who lost to winner Harrison Clark by 267 votes, also sought a recount, alleging that his scrutineers identified and rectified 45 counting errors on election night. However, Elections Calgary denied this request, stating that there were insufficient grounds to challenge the accuracy of the results.

As the city awaits the outcome of the Ward 12 recount, the process underscores the importance of transparency and accuracy in elections. Lori Williams, an associate professor at Mount Royal University, suggests that while a recount may not alter the mayoral outcome, it could significantly impact public trust. The final results, to be announced by noon on Friday, will either confirm the initial tallies or reveal the need for further scrutiny, ensuring every vote is accounted for.

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