© Published by Alberta King’s Printer Alberta King’s Printer Suite 700, Park Plaza 10611 - 98 Avenue Edmonton, AB T5K 2P7 Phone: 780-427-4952 E-mail: kings-printer@gov.ab.ca Shop on-line at kings-printer.alberta.ca Province of Alberta Office Consolidation Revised Statutes of Alberta 2000

Chapter E-1 Current as of December 18, 2025 ELECTION ACT

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Note All persons making use of this consolidation are reminded that it has no legislative sanction, that amendments have been embodied for convenience of reference only. The official Statutes and Regulations should be consulted for all purposes of interpreting and applying the law. Regulations The following is a list of the regulations made under the Election Act that are filed as Alberta Regulations under the Regulations Act Alta. Reg.

Amendments Election Act Election .......................................................... 148/2025 Election Act Forms ........................................ 69/2018 ........... 81/2019, 208/2022, 241/2022

1 ELECTION ACT

Chapter E-1 Table of Contents 1

Interpretation

Part 1 Appointments 2 Chief Electoral Officer 3 Appointment of Ch ief Electoral Officer 3.1 Oath of office 4 Duties and powers of Chief Electoral Officer 4.1 Test of new equipment and procedures 4.11 Directives issued by the Chief Electoral Officer 4.12 Accessible voting equipment 4.2 Inquiries 4.21 Advice and recommendations 5 Office of Chief Electoral Officer 5.1 Immunity 6 Salary of Chief Electoral Officer 7 Annual estimates 8 Records management 9 Appointment of retu rning officers 9.1 Hiring policy 10 Termination of appointment of returning officer 11 Remuneration of election officers and enumerators 12 Prohibition against political activity

Part 2 Election Lists Division 1 Register of Electors 13 Maintenance of register 13.1 Revising the register 13.2 Agreements on information

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Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 2 13.3 Access to information in the register Division 2 List of Electors 14 Review of voting areas 15 List of electors 16 Persons entitled to be listed as electors 17 Contents of list of electors 18 Distribution of lists of electors 19 Post-election-day list of electors 19.1 Protection of list 20 Restricted use of list of electors Division 3 Enumerations 21 Enumerations 22 Enumerators 24 Persons ineligible to act as enumerators 28 Oath of office 29 Right of access for enumerations 30 Conducting an enumeration

Part 3 Elections, By-Elections and Plebiscites 38.1 General election dates 39 Authorization to issue writ of election 40 Issue of writ of election 41 Writ not effected 42 Forms and materials 43 Persons eligible to vote 44 Absentee voters 45 Persons ineligible to vote 45.1 Appointment of el ection officers 46 Persons ineligible to be election officers 47 Appointment of election clerks 48 Duties of election clerks 49 Oaths and affidavits 50 Revision of voting area lists 51 Access to electors list and revisions 52 Location of voting places 52.1 Location of voting places on Indian reserves and Metis settlements 52.2 Designation of remote areas

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Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 3 53 Change of voting place 54 Voting place signs 55 Publication of election proclamation 56 Eligibility 57,58 Prohibitions against nomination 59 Nomination of candidates 59.1 Verifying signatures 60 Official agents of candidates 61 Filing nomination papers 61.1 Municipal councillor or school board trustee leave of absence 63 Material to be provided to candidate 64 Election by acclamation 65 Withdrawal of candidate 66 Death of candidate 67 Close of nominations 68 Service on candidate of documents and notices 69 Posting of notice of vote 70 Publishing information re location of voting place 78 Interpreters 79 Scrutineers 81 Ballot boxes 82 Provision of ballots 83 Contents of ballots 84 Record of ballots 86 Extra voting places or voting stations 88 Voting place hours 89 Opening of voting places 90 Posting of bulletins 91 Voting booths 92 Persons entitled to re main in voting place 93 Secrecy 94 Preservation of peace and order 96 Voter assistance 97 List of electors for advance voting 98 Voting places for advance voting 100 Voting at a voting station 100.1 Elector with matching identification and address 100.2 Elector with identification but address does not match voting record 100.4 Elector with identification but not on voting record 100.6 Declarations 100.7 Provision of ballot

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Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 4 101 Voting procedure 102 Spoiled ballot 104 Elector ’s declaration 105 Prohibited conduct during voting 106 Secrecy of vote 107 Taking ballot out of voting place 107.1 Declining to vote 108 Alleged impersonation of an elector 109 Person deemed to have voted 110 One vote only 111 Procedure on close of voting on election day 112 Procedure on conclusion of unofficial count 113 Advance vote count 114 Return of ballot box 116 Vote by Special Ballot 116.1 Secure Special Ballot 117 Name and address of Special Ballot voters to candidates 118 Voting by Special Ballot 119 Late receipt of Special Ballot 120 Mobile voting 121 Deemed residence 122 Presence at mobile vote 123 Mobile voting procedure 124 Mobile vote count 125 Application of Act to mobile voting 126 List of electors for by-election 127 Application of Act to by-election 128 Plebiscite 129 List of electors for plebiscite 130 Conduct of plebiscite 131 Application of Act to plebiscite 132 Time for voting 133 Right of access for campaigning 133.1 Canvassing in a multiple dwelling site before the campaign period 134 Printed or electronic advertising 134.1 Restrictions on government advertising 134.2 Complaints to Elec tion Commissioner 135 No election advertising at voting place 135.5 Landlords and condominium corporations

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Part 4 Post-Election-Day Procedures 136 Facilities for official count 137 Conduct of official count 138 Announcement of official results 139 Disclaimer 140 Delay in announcement of official results 141 Handling of documents after official count 142 Transmission of election materi als to Chief Electoral Officer 143 Compelling returning officer to perform duties 144 Judicial recount 145 Persons to attend recount 146 Conduct of recount 147 Results of recount 148 Appeal to Court of Appeal 148.1 Costs 149 By-election if tie vote 150 Publication of election results 151 Post-election custody of election documents 152 Inspection of election documents 153 Provincial Archives

Part 4.1 Investigations Division 1 Election Commissioner 153.03 Oath of office Division 2 Duties and Powers of Election Commissioner 153.09 Duties and powers of the Election Commissioner 153.091 Notice of investigation and conclusion 153.092 Annual report 153.093 Transitional provisions

Part 5 Administrative Penalties and Offences 153.1 Administrative penalties 153.2 Time limit 153.3 Appeal of administrative penalty 153.4 Compliance agreements

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Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 6 153.5 Notice of compliance agreement 153.6 Failure to comply 153.8 Application for injunction 154 General offence 154.1 Contravention of compliance agreement 155 Refusal by election officer to carry out duties 157 Impersonation 158 Interference with right of access 159 Interference with posted documents 160 False statements about candidate 161 Improper appointment of election officer 162 Entertaining 163 Offence re use of information 163.1 Consent to prosecute

Part 6 Corrupt Practices 164 Improper practices 164.1 Tampering with equipment 165 False statements re list of electors 166 Interference with voting secrecy 167 Fraudulent voting 168 Falsification of documents 169 Wilful falsification of ballot count 170 Betting 171 Provision of time to vote 172 Improper inducement 173 Wilful damage to voting record 174 Multiple voting 175 Undue influence 176 Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act 177 Corrupt practice offence 178 Corrupt practice by candidate 179 Corrupt practice by candidate ’s official agent 180 Submission of report 181 Corrupt practice by non-candidate 182 Payments not constituting corrupt practice 183 Effect of previous corrupt practices 184 Prohibitions based on perjured evidence

Part 7 Controverted Elections 185 Filing of petition

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Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 7 186 Petition 187 Security for costs 188 Service of petition 189 Address for service 190 Application to set aside petition 191 Application by respondent for further particulars 192 Time and place of trial 193 Application to dismiss petition 194 Rules of Court apply 195 Report to Chief Electoral Officer 196 Withdrawal from proceedings 197 Admission of undue election 198 Costs 199 Appeals 200 Report of judgment on appeal 201 No count of ballots by judge

Part 8 General 202 Certain irregularities excused 203 General evidence 204 Confidentiality of vote 205 Returning officer ’s certificate 206 Delay in court proceedings 206.1 Disclosure 206.2 Duty to provide doc ument or information 206.3 Duty to refer compla ints and allegations and to report acts or omissions 206.4 Judicial review 206.5 Prohibition on municipal bylaws 207 Regulations 207.1 Ministerial regulations

Part 9 Fees and Expenses 208 Fees and expenses HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, enacts as follows:

Interpretation 1(1) In this Act,

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Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 8 (a) “advance voting” means voting under

section 98; (a.1) “advance voting place” means a place where one or more voting stations are provided for the purpose of advance voting; (b) “by-election” means an election other than a general election; (b.1) “campaign period” means (

i) repealed 2021 c24 s4(2), (ii) in the case of a general election, the period commencing with the issue of a writ for the election and ending 2 months after election day, (iii) repealed 2021 c24 s4(2), (iii.1) in the case of an election under the Alberta Senate Election Act held in conjunction with a general election, the period commencing with the issue of a writ for the election and ending 2 months after election day, (iii.2) in the case of an election under the Alberta Senate Election Act held separately on a date provided for in an order under

section 5(1) of that Act, the period commencing on the date that the order under

section 5(1) of that Act is passed and ending 2 months after election day, and (iv) in the case of a by-elec tion, the period commencing with the issue of a writ for the by-election and ending 2 months after election day; (c) “candidate” means a person (

i) who is selected for endors ement as the official candidate of a registered political party for an electoral division, or (ii) who, after the commencem ent of the campaign period, declares the person’s candidacy as an independent candidate at the election in an electoral division; (d) “chief financial officer” means a person so appointed pursuant to the Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act; (e) “clerk” means a clerk of the Court of King’s Bench;

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Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 9 (e.1) “community support centre” means a facility that provides services to people experiencing poverty or homelessness; (f) “corrupt practice” means an y act or omission that is a corrupt practice under this Act; (f.1) “council” means “council of the band” as defined in the Indian Act (Canada); (g) “Court” means the Court of King’s Bench; (g.1) “declaration” means a st atement in writing in the form provided by the Chief Electoral Officer; (g.2) “declined ballot” means a ballot referred to in

section 107.1; (h) “election” means an election of a person as a member of the Legislative Assembly conducted under this Act; (h.1) “Election Commissioner” means the Election Commissioner appointed pursuant to the Public Service Act; (h.2) “election day” means the day set for voting during an election; (i) “election officer” means a re turning officer appointed under

section 9, an election clerk appointed under

section 47, a person appointed under

section 45.1 or any other person appointed under

section 4(3)(c); (i.1) “election period” means the period beginning on the day a writ is issued for a general election and ending on the election day for that general election; (j) “elector” means a person who on (

i) election day, in the case of an election, or (ii) a date fixed by the Chief Electoral Officer, in the case of an enumeration, is a Canadian citizen, is 18 years of age or older and is ordinarily resident in Alberta; (k) “electoral division” means an area in Alberta established as an electoral division under the Electoral Divisions Act; (k.1) “emergency shelter” incl udes short-term housing for individuals experiencing homelessness, individuals escaping domestic violence, and other similar temporary housing;

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Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 10 (l) “enumeration” means an enum eration of electors under

Part 2, Division 3; (m) “enumerator” means a person appointed under

section 22; (n) “general election” means an election where election writs are issued for elections in all electoral divisions; (n.1) “Indian band” means band as defined in the Indian Act (Canada); (o) “judge” means a judge of the Court of King’s Bench; (o.1) “leadership contestant” has the same meaning as in the Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act; (p) “licensed premises” mean s licensed premises under the Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Act; (q) “list of electors” means a list of persons entitled to vote at an election; (r) “member” means a member of the Legislative Assembly; (s) “mobile vote” means a vote conducted pursuant to

section 120; (s.1) “mobile voting” means voting under

section 120; (s.2) “mobile voting place” mean s a place where one or more voting stations are provided for the purpose of mobile voting; (s.3) “municipal council” mean s council within the meaning of the Municipal Government Act; (s.4) “municipal councillor” means councillor within the meaning of the Municipal Government Act; (t) “oath” includes an affirmation; (u) “official agent” means an elector so appointed by a candidate pursuant to this Act; (u.1) “population centre” mean s each of the following: (

i) a city; (ii) a town; (iii) a village;

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Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 11 (iv) a summer village; (

v) a hamlet; (vi) an urban service area; (v) - (

z) repealed 2021 c24 s4(2); (z.1) “record” means a record of information in any form and includes notes, images, audiovisual recordings, x-rays, books, documents, maps, drawings, photographs, letters, vouchers and papers and any other information that is written, photographed, recorded or stored in any manner, but does not include software or any mechanism that produces records; (aa) “register” means the regist er of electors established under

section 13; (aa.1) “registered candidate” ha s the same meaning as in the Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act; (bb) “registered constituency association” means a constituency association registered under the Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act; (cc) “registered political party” means a political party registered under the Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act; (cc.01) “registered prospective ca ndidate association” has the same meaning as in the Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act; (cc.1) “rejected ballot” means a ballot rejected in accordance with

section 111(5.2), 118(5)(

b) or 119; (dd) “respondent” means a candi date against whose election a petition is filed under

Part 7; (ee) “returning officer” means a person appointed under this Act as a returning officer and includes a person acting in the returning officer’s place; (ee.1) “school board” has the same meaning as in the Education Act; (ee.2) “school board trustee” mean s trustee within the meaning of the Education Act;

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Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 12 (ff) “scrutineer” means an elector who is authorized to represent a candidate at a voting place; (ff.1) “settlement administrato r” means settlement administrator as defined in the Metis Settlements Act; (ff.2) “settlement council” means the settlement council as defined in the Metis Settlements Act; (gg) repealed 2004 c23 s2; (hh) “Special Ballot” means th e Special Ballot provided for by

section 116; (hh.1) repealed 2021 c24 s4(2); (ii) “spoiled ballot” means a ballot that has been dealt with in accordance with

section 102; (jj) “Standing Committee” mean s the Standing Committee on Legislative Offices; (jj.1) “Statement of Vote” m eans the record of the count completed under

section 111 that includes the number of votes cast and the number of unused ballots, declined ballots, spoiled ballots, valid ballots and rejected ballots in the format prescribed by the Chief Electoral Officer; (kk) repealed 2021 c24 s4(2); (kk.1) “supportive living facility” means (

i) a lodge accommodation as defined in the Alberta Housing Act, or (ii) a continuing care home or supportive living accommodation as defined in the Continuing Care Act but does not include a treatment centre; (ll) “treatment centre” means an y of the following that provide medical treatment or care on an in-patient basis: (

i) an approved hospital under the Provincial Health Agencies Act; (ii) a facility under the Mental Health Act; (iii) a facility not referred to in subclause (

i) or (ii); (mm) “voting” means voting at an election or plebiscite;

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Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 13 (mm.1) “voting area” means a voting area referred to in

section 14(b); (mm.2) “voting place” means a place where one or more voting stations are provided for the purpose of voting at an election; (mm.3) “voting record” means a re cord containing the information described in

section 17 that is used (

i) to allow election officers to determine who is on the list of electors, (ii) to make any required updates to the personal information of electors, (iii) to add electors who have taken a declaration under

section 100.4, (iv) to record which electors have voted, and (

v) to make any required annotations regarding the voting process; (mm.4) “voting station” means a place within a voting place, advance voting place or mobile voting place where an elector casts the elector’s vote or advance vote; (nn) “writ” means a writ of election issued by the Chief Electoral Officer pursuant to an order of the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

(2) Subject to subsections (2.1) to (2.4) and

section 121, for the purposes of this Act, ordinary residence is determined in accordance with the following rules: (

a) a person can have only one place of ordinary residence; (

b) a person’s ordinary residence is the place where the person lives and sleeps and to which, when the person is absent from it, the person intends to return; (

c) when a person leaves Alberta with the intention of becoming ordinarily resident outside Alberta, the person’s ordinary residence in Alberta ceases.

(2.1) If a person leaves his or her residence in Alberta to study at an educational institution outside Alberta, the person is, while pursuing his or her studies outside Alberta, considered to be

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Section 1

Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 14 ordinarily resident in the place where he or she was resident immediately before commencing the studies.

(2.2) If a person leaves his or her residence in Alberta to study at an educational institution elsewhere in Alberta, the person may, while pursuing his or her studies, consider one of the following as his or her place of ordinary residence: (

a) the place where he or she was resident immediately before commencing his or her studies; (

b) the place where he or sh e is residing in Alberta.

(2.3) If a person leaves his or her residence in a province or territory other than Alberta to study at an educational institution in Alberta, the person is, while pursuing his or her studies in Alberta, considered to be ordinarily resident in the place where the person is residing in Alberta. (2.4) Subsections (2.1), (2.2) and (2.3) apply to the spouse, adult interdependent partner or dependant of a person described in those subsections.

(3) The ordinary residence of an inmate who is an elector is the first of the following places for which the inmate knows the address: (

a) his or her residence before being incarcerated; (

b) the residence of his or her spouse or adult interdependent partner, a relative or a dependant of the inmate, a relative of his or her spouse or adult interdependent partner or a person with whom the inmate would live but for his or her incarceration; (

c) the place of his or her arrest; (

d) the last court where the inmate was convicted and sentenced.

(4) For the purpose of this

section and

section 56(c.2), “inmate” means a person who has been convicted of an offence and is serving his or her sentence in a correctional institution under the Corrections Act, in a penitentiary under the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (Canada), in a place of custody under the Youth Justice Act or the Youth Criminal Justice Act (Canada) or in any other similar institution outside Alberta, excluding a person sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 10 days or less or for the non-payment of fines.

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(4.1) A word or phrase in subsection (1)(u.1)(

i) to (vi) has the same meaning as within the Municipal Government Act or its regulations.

(5) Where this Act requires a document or record to be filed, established, maintained, returned, transmitted, produced, submitted or served, the Chief Electoral Officer may specify whether that document or record must be in printed form or in electronic form, or both.

(6) When this Act requires that a document be filed with, returned, transmitted or submitted to, produced for or served on the Chief Electoral Officer or a returning officer, this obligation is met when the document is actually received by the Chief Electoral Officer or the returning officer, as the case may be. RSA 2000 cE-1 s1;2004 c23 s2;2010 c8 s2;2012 c5 s2;2016 c29 s52; 2017 c21 s29;2017 c29 s2;2019 cA-33.5 s50;2019 c15 s13; 2021 c24 s4(2);2022 cC-26.7 s67;AR 217/2022;2025 c7 s6(2); 2025 c10 s15

Part 1 Appointments Chief Electoral Officer 2(1) There shall be appointed pursuant to this Act a Chief Electoral Officer.

(2) The Chief Electoral Officer is an officer of the Legislature. RSA 1980 cE-2 s2 Appointment of Chief Electoral Officer 3(1) Subject to subsection (2), the Lieutenant Governor in Council shall appoint the Chief Electoral Officer on the recommendation of the Assembly.

(2) If a vacancy occurs while the Legislature is not in session, the Lieutenant Governor in Council, on the recommendation of the Standing Committee, may appoint a Chief Electoral Officer to fill the vacancy, and unless that office sooner becomes vacant, the person so appointed holds office until a Chief Electoral Officer is appointed under subsection (1), but if an appointment under subsection (1) is not made within 30 days after the commencement of the next session, the appointment under this subsection lapses and there is deemed to be another vacancy in the office of Chief Electoral Officer.

(3) The appointment of the Chief Electoral Officer expires 12 months after election day for the 2nd general election held after the Chief Electoral Officer was appointed unless the Chief Electoral

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Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 16 Officer is reappointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council prior to that date on the recommendation of the Standing Committee.

(3.1) Despite subsection (3), the appointment of the Chief Electoral Officer appointed prior to the coming into force of

section 4(3) of the Election Statutes Amendment Act, 2021 (No. 2) expires 12 months after election day for the next general election after the coming into force of that subsection unless the Chief Electoral Officer is reappointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council prior to that date on the recommendation of the Standing Committee.

(4) The Lieutenant Governor in Council, on an address of the Assembly, may suspend or remove the Chief Electoral Officer from office for cause or incapacity.

(5) If the Legislature is not then sitting, the Lieutenant Governor in Council may suspend the Chief Electoral Officer from office for cause or incapacity proved to the satisfaction of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, but the suspension shall not continue in force beyond the end of the next sitting of the Legislature.

(6) The Chief Electoral Officer may resign that office by filing a written notice with the Speaker of the Assembly or, if there is no Speaker or the Speaker is absent from Alberta, with the Clerk of the Assembly.

(7) During the time that there is a vacancy in the office of Chief Electoral Officer, the Deputy Chief Electoral Officer shall perform all the duties and exercise all the powers of the Chief Electoral Officer.

RSA 2000 cE-2 s3;2017 c29 s3;2021 c24 s4(3) Oath of office 3.1(1) Before beginning the duties of office, the Chief Electoral Officer shall take an oath to perform the duties of the office faithfully and impartially and, except as provided in this Act, the Alberta Senate Election Act, the Citizen Initiative Act, the Recall Act or the Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act, not to disclose any information received by the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer under this or any other Act.

(2) The oath referred to in subsection (1) shall be administered by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly or the Clerk of the Assembly. 2004 c23 s3;2010 c8 s3;2017 c29 s4;2019 cA-33.5 s50 2021 c24 s4(4) Duties and powers of Chief Electoral Officer 4(1) The Chief Electoral Officer shall

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Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 17 (

a) provide guidance, direction and supervision respecting the conduct of all elections, enumerations and plebiscites under this Act, elections under the Alberta Senate Election Act and plebiscites and referendums under any other Act to which this Act applies; (

b) enforce fairness and impartiality on the part of all election officers in the conduct of their duties and compliance with this Act, the Alberta Senate Election Act and any other Act to which this Act applies; (

c) issue to election officers any guidance, direction and information the Chief Electoral Officer considers necessary to ensure the effective carrying out of their duties under this Act, the Alberta Senate Election Act and any other Act to which this Act applies; (

d) perform all duties assigned to the Chief Electoral Officer by this or any other Act.

(1.1) Repealed 2017 c29 s5.

(2) The Chief Electoral Officer shall from time to time (

a) provide the public with information about the election process, the democratic right to vote, the right to be a candidate and, generally, about the operation of this Act, the Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act and any other Act to which this Act applies, (

b) implement public education and information programs to make the electoral process better known to the public, particularly to those persons and groups most likely to experience difficulties in exercising their democratic rights, and (

c) prepare educational materials for students who have reached voting age or will soon do so and make them available to a board of a school division or a person responsible for the operation of an independent school or the operator of a charter school for distribution to their students, including information on how to request access to information in the register about themselves and how to have their personal information removed or not included in the register.

(2.01) For the purposes of subsection (2)(c), “charter school”, “independent school” and “board” mean “charter school”, “independent school” and “board” as defined in the Education Act.

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(2.1) The Chief Electoral Officer may from time to time meet with representatives of the registered political parties that are represented in the Legislative Assembly concerning the election process or activities under this Act, the Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act or the Alberta Senate Election Act.

(2.2) Subject to regulations made under

section 207(1)(d), the Chief Electoral Officer may prescribe oaths for the purposes of this Act.

(3) The Chief Electoral Officer may, where the Chief Electoral Officer considers it necessary for the efficient conduct of an election, enumeration or plebiscite under this Act, an election under the Alberta Senate Election Act or a petition, plebiscite, referendum or vote under any other Act to which this Act applies, (

a) extend the time for doing anything under this Act, except (

i) the time for the holding of an election, and (ii) the time by which a nomination paper must be filed, (

b) increase the number of elec tion officers or enumerators, (

c) appoint other persons as election officers to carry out duties authorized by the Chief Electoral Officer, for the faithful performance of which those persons are to be sworn, (

d) increase the number of voting stations, (

e) omit or vary a prescribed fo rm, except the ballot, to suit the circumstances, and (

f) generally, adapt the provisions of this Act to the circumstances.

(3.1) Notwithstanding subsection (3), if, in the Chief Electoral Officer’s opinion, an emergency, disaster, or an unusual or unforeseen circumstance requires delaying the opening of a voting place or interrupting voting at a voting place, the Chief Electoral Officer may adjourn voting at that voting place to another time on the same day at the same voting place or to the same time or another time on the same day at a different voting place if the emergency, disaster, or unusual or unforeseen circumstance (

a) has a significant effect on the ability of the Chief Electoral Officer or a returning officer to conduct an election, (

b) has a significant effect on the ability of electors to attend a voting place, or

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Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 19 (

c) puts or may put the health or safety of persons in an electoral division at risk.

(3.2) The Chief Electoral Officer shall immediately notify registered political parties, registered candidates and registered candidates’ official agents in the affected electoral division about any change in voting hours or the location of a voting place made under subsection (3.1) and publish the change on the Chief Electoral Officer’s website and in any other manner the Chief Electoral Officer considers necessary.

(3.3) If a different voting place is fixed under subsection (3.1), the returning officer shall cause a conspicuous sign that clearly and accurately states the location of the new voting place to be attached to the original place where the voting place was to be located.

(3.4) Voting adjourned under subsection (3.1) must, when recommenced, continue so that the total number of hours the voting place is open for the purpose of voting is the same as that required under

section 88(1)(c).

(3.41) Despite subsection (3.4), in the case of advance voting, voting adjourned under subsection (3.1) (

a) may be recommenced on another day, and (

b) must continue, when recommenced, so that the total number of hours the advance voting place is open for the purpose of voting is the same number of hours that the advance voting place was scheduled to be open.

(3.5) If the Chief Electoral Officer is of the opinion that an adjournment is insufficient to address the circumstances set out in subsection (3.1), the Chief Electoral Officer may apply to a judge of the Court to discontinue the election in any one or more electoral divisions and commence a new election at another day and time.

(3.6) If the Court grants the application under subsection (3.5), (

a) the election for th e electoral division that is the subject of the application shall be discontinued, (

b) a new election for the electoral division that is the subject of the application shall be commenced under

section 39 as if the election were a by-election within 6 months of the date of the application, and (

c) nominations of candidates previously filed remain valid for the new election.

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(3.7) The Chief Electoral Officer shall publish a notice that the election has been discontinued under subsection (3.5) on the Chief Electoral Officer’s website and in any other manner the Chief Electoral Officer considers necessary.

(3.8) This Act applies to an election under subsection (3.5) as if it were a by-election.

(3.9) If voting is adjourned under subsection (3.1) or the election is discontinued under subsection (3.5), returning officers and election officers must make all reasonable efforts to ensure that the election materials are secured and that the integrity of the election is not compromised.

(4) The Chief Electoral Officer may remove any election officer from office for cause, incapacity or misconduct or for failing to perform his or her work satisfactorily and may order that election officer to deliver all materials in the election officer’s possession relating to that office to a designated person.

(5) The Chief Electoral Officer shall, immediately after each enumeration, general election, election under the Alberta Senate Election Act, by-election or plebiscite or a petition, plebiscite, referendum or vote under any other Act, prepare and have printed a report including (

a) a

summary of the Chief Electoral Officer’s conduct respecting the enumeration, general election, election under the Alberta Senate Election Act, by-election, petition, plebiscite, referendum or vote, as the case may be, (

b) a breakdown of results an d a

summary of costs, and (

c) any recommendations for am endments to this Act or the Alberta Senate Election Act, as the case may be.

(6) The Chief Electoral Officer shall transmit the report prepared under subsection (5) to the Standing Committee, which shall lay the report before the Legislative Assembly if it is then sitting or, if it is not then sitting, not more than 15 days after the commencement of the next sitting of the Assembly.

(7) The Chief Electoral Officer shall after the end of each year prepare a report on the exercise of the Chief Electoral Officer’s and the Election Commissioner’s functions under this Act, including any recommendations for amendments to this Act, and shall transmit the report to the Standing Committee on Legislative Offices, which shall, on its receipt, lay the report before the Assembly if it is then sitting or, if it is not then sitting, within

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Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 21 15 days after the commencement of the next sitting of the Assembly.

(8) A report made under subsection (7) may be combined with a report made under

section 4(2) of the Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act. RSA 2000 cE-1 s4;2004 c23 s4;2010 c8 s4;2012 cE-0.3 s266; 2012 c5 s3;2017 c29 s5;2019 cA-33.5 s50;2019 c15 s13; 2021 c24 s4(5);2025 c6 s35 Test of new equipment and procedures 4.1(1) Subject to subsection (1.1), if the Chief Electoral Officer wishes to test at a by-election the use of election procedures and equipment that are different from what this Act requires, the Chief Electoral Officer shall submit a written proposal to the Standing Committee describing in detail the election procedures and equipment proposed to be tested.

(1.1) The Chief Electoral Officer must not, in respect of a proposal under subsection (1), propose the testing of a voting machine, tabulator or other similar type of electronic equipment to be used for the counting of votes.

(2) If the Standing Committee approves the proposal, with or without changes, the Chief Electoral Officer may test the use of the election procedures and equipment in accordance with the approved proposal.

(3) As soon as possible after the proposal is approved, the Chief Electoral Officer shall publish the approved proposal on the Chief Electoral Officer’s website.

(4) A by-election held in accordance with the details provided in the approved proposal is not invalid by reason of any non-compliance with this Act.

(5) To the extent of any conflict between the approved proposal and this Act or a regulation under this Act, the approved proposal prevails and has the force of law with respect to the by-election. 2010 c8 s4;2025 c7 s6(3) Directives issued by the Chief Electoral Officer 4.11(1) If the Chief Electoral Officer determines that equipment referred to in

section 4.12 will be used in an election, the Chief Electoral Officer shall, no later than 7 days after a writ of election is issued, (

a) make a directive (

i) describing in detail the procedures and equipment to be used at that election,

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Section 4.11

Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 22 (ii) describing in detail how the Act will be modified in order to enable the use of the equipment at that election, and (iii) referring to the provisions of this Act that will not be complied with and specifying the nature and extent of non-compliance in each case, (

b) provide copies of the di rective to the leader of each registered political party, to any member of the Legislative Assembly who is not a member of a registered political party and to any independent candidate, and (

c) publish the directive on the Chief Electoral Officer’s website.

(2) Subject to subsection (2.1), the Chief Electoral Officer, with respect to voting at an advance voting place, (

a) may make a directive (

i) describing the procedures to be used for voting at the advance voting place, including (

A) providing for the form and printing of ballots for use at the advance voting place, (

B) providing for the delivery of votes to the location where they are to be counted, and (

C) providing for the counting of votes, (ii) describing in detail how the Act will be modified for the purposes of this subsection, and (iii) referring to the provisions of this Act that will not be complied with and specifying the nature and extent of non-compliance in each case, and (

b) if a directive is made, shall (

i) provide copies of the di rective to the leader of each registered political party, to any member of the Legislative Assembly who is not a member of a registered political party and to any independent candidate, and

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Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 23 (ii) publish the directive on the Chief Electoral Officer’s website.

(2.1) The Chief Electoral Officer must not make a directive under subsection (2)(

a) that provides for the counting of votes by means of a voting machine, tabulator or other similar type of electronic equipment.

(3) The Chief Electoral Officer’s directive under subsection (1) may apply to any one or more of the following: (

a) one or more electoral divisions; (

b) voting at an advance voting place; (

c) voting at a mobile voting place; (

d) repealed 2021 c24 s4(6); (

e) voting by Special Ballot or Secured Special Ballot; (

f) voting on election day.

(4) An election held in accordance with a directive made under this

section is not invalid by reason of any non-compliance with this Act where the non-compliance is related to the procedures and equipment set out in the directive.

(5) To the extent of any conflict between this Act and a directive made under this section, the directive prevails.

(6) The Chief Electoral Officer shall include a

summary of the use at an election of any equipment authorized by a directive issued under this

section in the Chief Electoral Officer’s report under

section 4(5).

(7) For the purpose of

section 4.12(2)(c), testing includes, without limitation, logic and accuracy testing. 2017 c29 s6;2021 c24 s4(6);2025 c7 s6(4) Accessible voting equipment 4.12(1) The Chief Electoral Officer may issue a directive in accordance with

section 4.11 authorizing the use of accessible voting equipment during an election.

(2) The following restrictions apply with respect to the use of accessible voting equipment: (

a) the equipment must allow the elector to vote privately and independently;

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Section 4.2

Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 24 (

b) the equipment must not be part of or connected to an electronic network, except that the equipment may be securely connected to a network after the close of voting for the purpose of transmitting information to the Chief Electoral Officer; (

c) the equipment must be tested, (

i) before the first elector uses the equipment to vote, and (ii) after the last elector uses the equipment to vote; (

d) the information presented on a ballot made available to the elector through the equipment before voting must comply with

section 83, with necessary modifications; (

e) the equipment must create a paper ballot that records the vote cast, is retained in the same way as ordinary ballots and includes the name of the electoral division; (

f) the equipment must, before the paper ballot is printed, allow the elector to verify the elector’s vote without the assistance of another person; (

g) the equipment or the process used must, after the paper ballot is printed but before casting the elector’s vote, allow the elector to verify the elector’s vote; (

h) the equipment must not be used in a way that enables the choice of an elector to be made known to an election officer or scrutineer.

(3) Accessible voting equipment shall not be used unless an entity that the Chief Electoral Officer considers to be an established independent authority on the subject of voting equipment has certified that the equipment meets acceptable security and integrity standards.

(4) In this section, “accessible voting equipment” means voting equipment that enables electors requiring assistance to vote independently. 2017 c29 s6;2021 c24 s4(7);2025 c7 s6(5) Inquiries 4.2(1) For the purposes of carrying out an inquiry under this Act, the Chief Electoral Officer has all the powers of a commissioner under the Public Inquiries Act as though the inquiry were an inquiry under that Act.

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Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 25

(2) For the purpose of carrying out an inquiry under this Act, a representative of the Chief Electoral Officer, on production of the representative’s authorization from the Chief Electoral Officer, may at any reasonable time enter any premises referred to in the authorization in which records of a political party, constituency association or candidate relevant to the subject-matter of the inquiry are kept and may examine and make copies of the records or remove them temporarily for the purpose of making copies.

(2.1) Before entering a private dwelling or a part of premises used as a private dwelling to carry out the powers described in subsection (2), a representative of the Chief Electoral Officer shall (

a) obtain the consent of the occu pant or the legal representative of the occupant of the private dwelling or the part of the premises used as a private dwelling, or (

b) obtain an order from the Court.

(3) A registered political party, registered constituency association or registered candidate shall, within 30 days after receiving a written request from the Chief Electoral Officer or within an extended period that the Chief Electoral Officer may determine, provide any information with respect to the affairs of the registered political party, registered constituency association or registered candidate that is reasonably required by the Chief Electoral Officer in the course of the Chief Electoral Officer’s duties under this Act. 2010 c8 s4;2012 c5 s4;2017 c29 s7;2021 c24 s4(8) Advice and recommendations 4.21(1) A person to whom this Act applies may request that the Chief Electoral Officer provide the person with advice on the person’s powers, duties or rights under this Act.

(2) The Chief Electoral Officer may, in writing, provide a person who made a request under subsection (1) with advice that (

a) sets out the material facts on which the request is based, (

b) is based on the facts referred to in clause (a), and (

c) may be based on any other considerations that the Chief Electoral Officer considers appropriate.

(3) If a person who made a request under subsection (1) becomes aware of a change to a material fact on which the request is based before the Chief Electoral Officer provides advice in accordance with subsection (2), the person must, as soon as practicable, notify the Chief Electoral Officer of the change.

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Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 26

(4) Subject to subsection (5), the Chief Electoral Officer must keep confidential the advice provided to a person under subsection (2) except in the following circumstances: (

a) the person makes it publicly available; (

b) the person provides the Chief Electoral Officer with written consent to make it publicly available or specifically available to a particular person; (

c) it is required to be disclose d for the purpose of a proceeding.

(5) The Chief Electoral Officer may make the following advice publicly available: (

a) advice of a general nature in respect of the enforcement,

interpretation or application of a provision of this Act; (

b) advice provided under subsection (2) if identifying information about the person who made the request under subsection (1) has been removed.

(6) For greater certainty, a reference to advice in subsection (2) or (5) includes the following: (

a) the material facts set out in the advice; (

b) other considerations on which the Chief Electoral Officer’s advice is based; (

c) a recommendation included as a part of the advice.

(7) A person may not be the subject of a civil or administrative proceeding or administrative penalty under this Act to the extent that the proceeding or penalty is based on the person’s reliance on advice provided in accordance with subsection (2) or (5). 2025 c7 s6(6) 4.3 and 4.4 Repealed 2017 c29 s8.

Office of Chief Electoral Officer 5(1) There shall be a department of the public service of Alberta called the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, consisting of the Chief Electoral Officer and those officers and employees, including a Deputy Chief Electoral Officer and an Election Commissioner, appointed pursuant to the Public Service Act who are required to assist the Chief Electoral Officer in the administration of this Act.

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Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 27

(1.1) For any period during which there is not an appointed Election Commissioner, the Chief Electoral Officer shall act as Election Commissioner.

(1.2) Whether or not there is an appointed Election Commissioner, the Chief Electoral Officer has all the powers, duties and functions of the Election Commissioner for the purposes of this Act, the Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act, the Local Authorities Election Act, the Alberta Senate Election Act, the Citizen Initiative Act and the Recall Act and the Election Commissioner exercises or performs those powers, duties and functions subject to any restrictions, limitations or directions that the Chief Electoral Officer may specify.

(1.3) The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer may operate under the name “Elections Alberta”.

(2) On the recommendation of the Chief Electoral Officer, the Standing Committee may order that (

a) any regulation, order or directive made under the Financial Administration Act, (

b) any regulation, order, directive, rule, procedure, direction, allocation, designation or other decision under the Public Service Act, or (

c) any regulation, order, determination, direction or other decision under the Public Sector Compensation Transparency Act, be inapplicable to, or be varied in respect of, the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer or any particular employee or class of employees in the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer.

(3) An order made under subsection (2)(

a) in relation to a regulation, order or directive made under the Financial Administration Act operates notwithstanding that Act.

(3.1) An order made under subsection (2)(

c) in relation to a regulation, order, determination, direction or other decision under the Public Sector Compensation Transparency Act operates notwithstanding that Act.

(4) The Regulations Act does not apply to orders made under subsection (2).

(5) The chair of the Standing Committee shall lay a copy of each order made under subsection (2) before the Assembly if it is then

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Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 28 sitting or, if it is not then sitting, within 15 days after the commencement of the next sitting.

RSA 2000 cE-1 s5;2004 c23 s5;2010 c8 s5;2015 cP-40.5 s20; 2019 c15 s13;2021 c24 s4(9) Immunity 5.1(1) No proceedings lie against the Chief Electoral Officer or a returning officer, or against a person acting for or under the direction of the Chief Electoral Officer or a returning officer, for anything done, or omitted to be done, in good faith in the exercise or performance or the intended exercise or performance of a power, duty or function under this Act, the Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act, the Alberta Senate Election Act, the Citizen Initiative Act or the Recall Act.

(2) No proceedings lie against the Election Commissioner, or against a person acting for or under the direction of the Election Commissioner, for anything done, or omitted to be done, in good faith in the exercise or performance or the intended exercise or performance of a power, duty or function under this Act, the Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act, the Local Authorities Election Act, the Alberta Senate Election Act, the Citizen Initiative Act or the Recall Act. 2010 c8 s6;2019 cA-33.5 s50;2019 c15 s13;2021 c24 s4(10) Salary of Chief Electoral Officer 6 The salary of the Chief Electoral Officer shall be in an amount fixed by the Standing Committee at the time of appointment, that shall be reviewed at least once a year by the Standing Committee.

RSA 1980 cE-2 s6;1992 c12 s3 Annual estimates 7(1) The Chief Electoral Officer shall submit to the Standing Committee on Legislative Offices in respect of each fiscal year an estimate of the sum that will be required to be provided by the Legislature to defray the various charges and expenses of the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer in that fiscal year.

(2) The Standing Committee on Legislative Offices shall review each estimate submitted pursuant to subsection (1) and, on completion of the review, the chair of the Committee shall present the estimate to the President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance for presentation to the Assembly.

(3) If at any time the Legislative Assembly is not in session, the Standing Committee, or if there is no Standing Committee, the President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance,

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Section 8

Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 29 (

a) reports that the Chief Electoral Officer has certified that in the public interest an expenditure of public money is urgently required in respect of any matter pertaining to the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, and (

b) reports that either (

i) there is no supply vote under which an expenditure with respect to that matter may be made, or (ii) there is a supply vote u nder which an expenditure with respect to that matter may be made but the authority available under the supply vote is insufficient, the Lieutenant Governor in Council may order a special warrant to be prepared to be signed by the Lieutenant Governor authorizing the expenditure of the amount estimated to be required.

(4) When the Legislative Assembly is adjourned for a period of more than 14 days, then, for the purposes of subsection (3), the Assembly is deemed not to be in session during the period of the adjournment.

(5) When a special warrant is prepared and signed under subsection (3) on the basis of a report referred to in subsection (3)(b)(i), the authority to spend the amount of money specified in the special warrant for the purpose specified in the special warrant is deemed to be a supply vote for the purposes of the Financial Administration Act.

(6) When a special warrant is prepared and signed under subsection (3) on the basis of a report referred to in subsection (3)(b)(ii), the authority to spend the amount of money specified in the special warrant is, for the purposes of the Financial Administration Act, added to and deemed to be part of the supply vote to which the report relates.

(7) When a special warrant has been prepared and signed pursuant to this section, the amounts authorized by it are deemed to be included in, and not to be in addition to, the amounts authorized by the Act, not being

an Act for interim supply, enacted next after it for granting to His Majesty sums of money to defray certain expenditures of the Public Service of Alberta. RSA 2000 cE-1 s7;2004 c23 s6;2006 c23 s25;2013 c10 s32; AR 217/2022 Records management 8 On the recommendation of the Chief Electoral Officer, the Standing Committee may, subject to

section 153, make an order

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Section 9

Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 30 (

a) respecting the management of records in the custody or under the control of the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, including their creation, handling, control, organization, retention, maintenance, security, preservation, disposition, alienation and destruction and their transfer to the Provincial Archives of Alberta; (

b) establishing or governing the establishment of programs for any matter referred to in clause (a); (

c) defining and classifying records; (

d) respecting the records or cl asses of records to which the order or any provision of it applies. 1995 c34 s3 Appointment of returning officers 9(1) The Chief Electoral Officer may appoint a returning officer for each electoral division for the purposes of or in connection with elections, enumerations, plebiscites and votes under this Act, the Citizen Initiative Act or the Recall Act and elections under the Alberta Senate Election Act.

(1.1) If a by-election, an election under the Alberta Senate Election Act or a plebiscite is to be conducted under this Act before returning officers are appointed under subsection (1), returning officers may be appointed for the purpose of the by-election, election under the Alberta Senate Election Act or plebiscite.

(1.2) If a recall vote under the Recall Act is to be conducted under this Act before returning officers are appointed under subsection (1), returning officers may be appointed for the purpose of the recall vote.

(2) The returning officer for an electoral division must be an elector and must not be ineligible under

section 46 for appointment.

(2.1) Repealed 2017 c29 s9.

(3) In addition to performing the duties specified in this or any other Act, a returning officer shall (

a) from time to time review voting area boundaries on the direction of the Chief Electoral Officer, (

b) make all advance plans and preparations to enable an enumeration, election or plebiscite to be proceeded with expeditiously and efficiently when called in the returning officer’s electoral division,

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Section 9.1

Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 31 (

c) keep himself or herself informed and knowledgeable of the requirements of all relevant legislation, and (

d) from time to time and when requested by the Chief Electoral Officer, investigate and study enumeration, election and plebiscite practices and procedures for the purpose of effecting increased economy, efficiency and service to electors and candidates.

(4) The Chief Electoral Officer shall publish the name and electoral division of the returning officer appointed for each electoral division on the Chief Electoral Officer’s website and in any other manner the Chief Electoral Officer considers appropriate.

(5) Each returning officer shall, before assuming the returning officer’s duties, take the prescribed oath of office and transmit it to the Chief Electoral Officer. RSA 2000 cE-1 s9;2004 c23 s7;2010 c8 s7; 2017 c29 s9;2018 c11 s8;2019 cA-33.5 s50; 2021 c24 s4(11) Hiring policy 9.1(1) The Chief Electoral Officer shall establish a hiring policy, including policies surrounding conflicts of interest, relating to the hiring of election officers, enumerators and employees on the basis of merit.

(2) The policy established under subsection (1) must be published on the Chief Electoral Officer’s website and in any other manner determined by the Chief Electoral Officer. 2017 c29 s10 Termination of appointment of returning officer 10(1) A returning officer shall immediately notify the Chief Electoral Officer in writing if the returning officer is unable to act and, if the returning officer wishes to resign, shall submit the returning officer’s written resignation to the Chief Electoral Officer.

(2) If a returning officer is for any reason unable or unwilling to act, or neglects the returning officer’s duties, the Chief Electoral Officer (

a) before a writ of election has been issued, or (

b) after a writ of election has been issued and if there is no election clerk appointed for the relevant electoral division, may appoint an acting returning officer who shall have all the rights and powers and shall perform all the duties of a returning

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Section 11

Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 32 officer for that electoral division until the returning officer resumes the returning officer’s duties or a new returning officer is appointed.

(3) The appointment of a returning officer expires 4 months after the election day of the general election in which the returning officer was a returning officer unless it is sooner terminated.

(4) The Chief Electoral Officer shall confirm in writing to each returning officer the date of termination of the returning officer’s appointment. RSA 2000 cE-1 s10;2010 c8 s8;2021 s24 s4(12) Remuneration of election officers and enumerators 11 All election officers and enumerators shall, on performance of their duties at the request of the Chief Electoral Officer or at the request of a returning officer, be paid remuneration, fees and expenses as established by the Chief Electoral Officer. RSA 2000 cE-1 s10;2010 c8 s8;2017 c29 s11 Prohibition against political activity 12 No person who has been appointed or is acting as a returning officer or election clerk may (

a) engage in political activity on behalf of any political party, candidate or constituency association, or (

b) make a contribution under the Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act, while the person is so appointed or acting. RSA 2000 cE-1 s12;2010 c8 s9;2012 c5 s5;2021 c24 s4(13)

Part 2 Election Lists Division 1 Register of Electors Maintenance of register 13(1) The Chief Electoral Officer shall maintain a register of electors from which lists of electors for voting areas for each electoral division may be compiled for use at general elections, by-elections or plebiscites under this Act, petitions, plebiscites or votes under the Citizen Initiative Act or the Recall Act or referendums or plebiscites under any other Act.

(2) The register of electors may only contain the following information about persons ordinarily resident in Alberta who are electors or will be eligible to be electors:

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Section 13.1

Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 33 (

a) the residential address, including the postal code, of the residence of the person, and the mailing address, including the postal code, if the mailing address is different from the residential address, (

b) the surname, given name and any middle name of the person, (

c) the telephone number of the person, (c.1) the email address of the pers on, if the person has consented to the collection and use of their email address, (

d) the gender of the person, (

e) the citizenship of the person, (

f) the date of birth of the person, (

g) the permanent unique identifier number assigned under subsection (4), and (

h) any other identification number assigned by other persons who provide information to the Chief Electoral Officer under

section 13.1 or pursuant to an agreement under

section 13.2 to assist in distinguishing a person from another person or verifying information about a person.

(2.1) A person may be added to the register of electors when the Chief Electoral Officer has the information with respect to that person that is referred to in subsection (2)(a), (b), (

e) and (f).

(3) The information referred to in subsection (2)(d), (

e) and (

f) obtained under this Act may only be used to verify the identification of an elector when revising the register.

(4) The Chief Electoral Officer may assign, in respect of each elector whose information is contained in the register, a permanent unique identifier number consisting of numbers or letters, or a combination of numbers and letters, to be used to assist in distinguishing an elector from another elector or verifying information about an elector. RSA 2000 cE-1 s13;2003 c21 s23;2004 c23 s8;2010 c8 s10; 2017 c29 s12;2019 cA-33.5 s50;2021 c24 s4(14) Revising the register 13.1(1) The register may, in accordance with this section, be revised from time to time as the Chief Electoral Officer considers necessary but must be revised as soon as possible after the

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Section 13.1

Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 34

Schedule of electoral divisions in the Electoral Divisions Act is amended or re-enacted.

(2) The register may be revised by any or all of the following methods: (

a) conducting an enumeration in accordance with Division 3 of all or some of the electoral divisions, or portions of any of them, as determined by the Chief Electoral Officer; (

b) using information provided pursuant to an agreement under

section 13.2(1) or (2); (

c) using personal information held by a public body as defined in the Protection of Privacy Act if in the opinion of the Chief Electoral Officer the information is necessary for the purpose of revising the register; (

d) using personal information listed in public telephone directories; (

e) using any other information obtained by or available to the Chief Electoral Officer.

(2.1) If information has been collected under the Alberta Personal Income Tax Act with the consent of the taxpayers to whom the information relates for the purpose of updating the list of electors, the Chief Electoral Officer may use that information to revise the register.

(2.2) The Chief Electoral Officer shall enter in the register any information listed in

section 13(2) that is collected during an election period.

(3) A public body as defined in the Protection of Privacy Act shall, at the request of the Chief Electoral Officer, (

a) for the purpose of subsection (2)(c), provide personal information held by that public body, and (

b) provide address, mapping, demographic or geographic information, including geospatial information.

(3.1) At the request of the Chief Electoral Officer, the Department, as defined in the Health Information Act, may in the manner that the Department considers appropriate, provide personal health numbers and the information set out in

section 13(2)(

a) to (

f) of this Act with respect to persons ordinarily resident in Alberta who are electors or will be eligible to be electors that is in the custody or

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Section 13.2

Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 35 under the control of the Department to the Chief Electoral Officer, for the purpose of maintaining and revising the register.

(4) A public body providing information under subsection (3) may charge a reasonable fee for providing the information, but the fee may not exceed the actual cost of producing a copy of the information.

(5) The Chief Electoral Officer may retain information collected under subsection (2) but not included in the register, for the purpose of correlating information contained or to be included in the register.

(6) At the request of the Chief Electoral Officer, the Minister of Education, a board of a school division or a person responsible for the operation of an independent school or the operator of a charter school shall disclose to the Chief Electoral Officer the information referred to in

section 13(2)(

a) to (

f) with respect to students who are at least 16 years of age enrolled in a school operated by a board or operator for use by the Chief Electoral Officer for the purpose of maintaining and revising the register.

(7) For the purposes of subsection (6), “charter school”, “independent school” and “board” mean “charter school”, “independent school” and “board” as defined in the Education Act. 2010 c8 s10;2012 cE-0.3 s266;2012 c5 s6;2017 c29 s13; 2021 c24 s4(15);AR 141/2025;2025 c6 s35 Agreements on information 13.2(1) The Chief Electoral Officer may enter into an agreement with the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada under the Canada Elections Act (Canada) (

a) to receive from the Chie f Electoral Officer of Canada information that will assist the Chief Electoral Officer of Alberta in revising the register, and (

b) to provide to the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada information that will assist the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada in preparing or revising that Chief Electoral Officer’s information for the purpose of compiling or revising lists of electors under the Canada Elections Act (Canada).

(2) The Chief Electoral Officer may enter into an agreement with a municipality (

a) to receive from the municipa lity information that will assist the Chief Electoral Officer in revising the register, and

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Section 13.3

Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 36 (

b) to provide to the municipality’s secretary, as defined in the Local Authorities Election Act, information that will assist the secretary in compiling or revising information for the purpose of compiling or revising the municipality’s permanent electors register under the Local Authorities Election Act.

(3) The Chief Electoral Officer may enter into agreements with any person for the purpose of providing or obtaining address, mapping, demographic or geographic information, including geospatial information. 2010 c8 s10;s2021 s24 s4(16) Access to information in the register 13.3(1) A person or the person’s agent may, on request and in the manner determined by the Chief Electoral Officer, (

a) have access to information in the register about the person to determine whether the information is correct, and (

b) have a notation made in the register that the person does not want to have their personal information included in a list of electors.

(2) Where a person has requested that a notation be made under subsection (1)(b), the Chief Electoral Officer must ensure that the person’s personal information is not included in a list of electors.

(3) Any person or agent of a person requesting access to information in the register shall complete and sign a declaration. 2010 c8 s10;2021 c24 s4(17) Division 2 List of Electors Review of voting areas 14 The Chief Electoral Officer shall, from time to time, in consultation with the returning officer for each electoral division, (

a) review the boundary of and the number of electors in each voting area, and (

b) subdivide the entire elect oral division for which the returning officer was appointed into as many sequentially numbered areas as considered necessary for use as voting areas in any general election, by-election, petition, plebiscite, referendum or vote. RSA 2000 cE-1 s14;2004 c23 s9;2021 c24 s4(18)

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Section 15

Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 37 List of electors 15(1) Lists of electors for voting areas for each electoral division to be used for a general election, by-election, petition, plebiscite, referendum or vote are to be compiled from the register.

(2) The lists of electors may be compiled manually or by means of any computer-based system and may be in printed form or may be stored in any computer-based system or any other information storage device that is capable of reproducing any required information in legible printed form within a reasonable time. RSA 2000 cE-1 s15;2021 c24 s4(19) Persons entitled to be listed as electors 16 Subject to

section 45, a person is eligible to have the person’s name included on a list of electors if that person as of a date fixed by the Chief Electoral Officer (

a) is a Canadian citizen, (

b) is at least 18 years of age, and (

c) repealed 2017 c29 s14, (

d) is ordinarily resident in the electoral division and voting area for which that person is to have the person’s name included on the list of electors. RSA 2000 cE-1 s16;2017 c29 s14;2021 c24 s4(20) Contents of list of electors 17 Subject to

section 18(7) and the regulations, only the first names, middle names and surnames, the addresses, including postal codes, the telephone numbers and the unique identifier numbers of electors may be contained in the list of electors. RSA 2000 cE-1 s17;2004 c23 s10;2010 c8 s11;2025 c7 s6(7) Distribution of lists of electors 18(1) The Chief Electoral Officer shall furnish the information referred to in subsection (2) free of charge to each registered political party and to each member of the Legislative Assembly who is not a member of a registered political party, (a) 2 years after a general election, (

b) repealed 2017 c29 s15, (

c) as soon as possible after the register is updated after the

Schedule of electoral divisions in the Electoral Divisions Act is amended or re-enacted, and

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Section 18

Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 38 (

d) as soon as possible after the receipt by the Chief Electoral Officer of the Clerk’s warrant delivered pursuant to

section 32 of the Legislative Assembly Act.

(2) The information to be furnished under subsection (1) is as follows: (

a) to a registered political party, (i) 2 maps showing the voting areas in each electoral division, and (ii) in accordance with the registered political party’s request, one printed copy or one copy in electronic form, or both, of the list of electors for each voting area in each electoral division, and (

b) to a member of the Legi slative Assembly who is not a member of a registered political party, (i) 2 maps showing the voting areas, and (ii) in accordance with the member’s request, one printed copy or one copy in electronic form, or both, of the list of electors for each voting area in the electoral division that the member represents.

(3) The Chief Electoral Officer shall, as soon as possible after a writ has been issued for a general election, furnish free of charge to each registered political party, (a) 2 maps showing the voting areas in each electoral division, and (

b) in accordance with the regi stered political party’s request, one printed copy or one copy in electronic form, or both, of the list of electors for each voting area in each electoral division.

(3.1) The Chief Electoral Officer shall, following the close of revisions to the list of electors under

section 50, furnish free of charge (

a) to each registered political party, one printed copy or one copy in electronic form, or both, in accordance with the political party’s request, of the additions to the list of electors for each voting area in each electoral division, and

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Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 39 (

b) to each candidate who ha s filed nomination papers, one printed copy or one copy in electronic form, or both, in accordance with the candidate’s request, of the additions to the list of electors for each voting area in the electoral division in which the candidate is seeking election.

(3.2) The Chief Electoral Officer shall, following the close of advance voting, furnish free of charge (

a) to each registered political party, one copy in electronic form of the revised list of electors for each voting area in each electoral division, and (

b) to each candidate who ha s filed nomination papers, one copy in electronic form of the revised list of electors for each voting area in the electoral division in which the candidate is seeking election.

(4) The Chief Electoral Officer is not required to furnish copies of the maps and lists of electors under subsection (1), (3), (3.1) or (3.2) if there has been no change to the boundaries, the maps or the information in the register that is used to compile the lists of electors since the Chief Electoral Officer last furnished copies of the boundaries, maps and lists of electors pursuant to subsection (1), (3), (3.1) or (3.2), as the case may be.

(5) The Chief Electoral Officer shall, on request and payment of the cost to produce the information as determined by the Chief Electoral Officer, furnish (

a) to a registered political party in accordance with the political party’s request, one printed copy or one copy in electronic form, or both, of the list of electors for each voting area in each electoral division, and (

b) to each member of the Legi slative Assembly in accordance with the member’s request, one printed copy or one copy in electronic form, or both, of the list of electors for each voting area in the electoral division that the member represents.

(6) A member or a registered political party may request additional copies of the lists of electors in addition to those furnished under subsection (1), (3) or (3.1) on providing a reason for the additional copies and on payment of an amount determined by the Chief Electoral Officer.

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Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 40

(7) For the purpose of tracing the unauthorized use of the list of electors, the Chief Electoral Officer may have fictitious voter information included in a list of electors provided under this section.

(8) Repealed 2012 c5 s7. RSA 2000 cE-1 s18;2004 c23 s11;2010 c8 s12;2012 c5 s7; 2017 c29 s15;2021 c24 s4(21) Post-election-day list of electors 19(1) The Chief Electoral Officer shall, within a reasonable period of time after election day for a general election, prepare a post-election-day list of electors for each voting area in each electoral division.

(2) The Chief Electoral Officer shall furnish free of charge (

a) to each registered political party, one printed copy or one copy in electronic form, or both, in accordance with the political party’s request, of the post-election-day list of electors for each voting area in each electoral division, and (

b) to each member of the Le gislative Assembly, one printed copy or one copy in electronic form, or both, in accordance with each member’s request, of the post-election-day list of electors for each voting area in the electoral division that the member represents. RSA 2000 cE-1 s19;2004 c23 s12;2021 c24 s4(22) Protection of list 19.1(1) A person or registered political party to whom a copy of a list of electors has been furnished under this Act shall take all reasonable steps to protect the list and the information contained in it from loss and unauthorized use.

(2) A person or registered political party to whom a copy of a list of electors has been furnished under this Act shall immediately notify the Chief Electoral Officer if the list or information contained in the list has been lost.

(3) On being notified under subsection (2), the Chief Electoral Officer shall direct the person or registered political party to take any action the Chief Electoral Officer considers appropriate. 2012 c5 s8 Restricted use of list of electors 20(1) In this section, “elector” includes a person who is eligible to vote at a plebiscite or referendum conducted under this Act or under

an Act to which this Act applies.

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Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 41

(2) Subject to the regulations, a list of electors, including a post-election-day list of electors under

section 19, may be used only as follows: (

a) by a registered political party or a registered constituency association, for communicating with electors, including for soliciting contributions and recruiting party members; (

b) by a member of the Legislative Assembly (

i) for carrying out the duties and functions of the member, (ii) in the case of a member of a registered political party, for soliciting contributions for the use of the registered political party or any constituency association of that party and recruiting party members, and (iii) in the case of a member who is not a member of a registered political party but who has endorsed a constituency association as the official association of the member, for soliciting contributions for the use of the constituency association; (

c) by a candidate, (

i) for communicating with electors during a campaign period, including for soliciting contributions and campaigning, and (ii) for soliciting contributions during any period authorized under

section 43.1 of the Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act; (

d) by election officers for th e purpose of carrying out their duties under this Act. RSA 2000 cE-1 s20;2012 c5 s9;2021 c24 s4(23);2025 c7 s6(8) Division 3 Enumerations Enumerations 21(1) The Chief Electoral Officer may, at any time the Chief Electoral Officer considers advisable, conduct an enumeration, or direct a returning officer to conduct an enumeration, of some or all of the electoral divisions, or within an electoral division, by any means the Chief Electoral Officer determines sufficient to meet the purposes of the enumeration.

(2) The Chief Electoral Officer shall issue guidelines and provide direction for the conduct of an enumeration.

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Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 42

(3) With respect to an enumeration of the electors on an Indian reserve or on a Metis settlement, the Chief Electoral Officer shall consult with the council of each Indian band and with the settlement council and settlement administrator of each Metis settlement with respect to the manner in which the enumeration can be conducted most effectively. RSA 2000 cE-3 s21;2017 c29 s16;2021 c24 s4(24) Enumerators 22(1) The Chief Electoral Officer may appoint, or direct that a returning officer appoint, sufficient enumerators for the conduct of an enumeration.

(2) If an enumerator is unable or unwilling to act or neglects the enumerator’s duties, the Chief Electoral Officer or returning officer conducting the enumeration may appoint another enumerator in the enumerator’s place. RSA 2000 cE-1 s22;2004 c23 s13;2021 c24 s4(25) 23 Repealed 2021 c24 s4(25). Persons ineligible to act as enumerators 24 The following persons may not be appointed or act as enumerators: (

a) repealed 2017 c29 s17; (

b) members of the Parliament of Canada; (

c) members of the Legislative Assembly; (

d) candidates; (

e) official agents; (

f) judges of federal or provincial courts; (

g) persons who have within the immediately preceding 10 years been convicted of an indictable offence for which the penalty that may be imposed is greater than 2 years’ imprisonment. RSA 2000 cE-1 s24;2017 c29 s17 25 to 27 Repealed 2021 c24 s4(26).

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Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 43 Oath of office 28 Each enumerator shall, before assuming the enumerator’s duties, take the prescribed oath of office before the returning officer or any person authorized to take oaths in Alberta, and no fee may be charged by the person administering the oath. 1996 c15 s5 Right of access for enumerations 29(1) In this section, “multiple dwelling site” means (

a) an apartment building, condominium building or other multiple residence building, or (

b) any site in which more than one residence is contained, including a mobile home park, gated community and any similar site.

(2) A person who is in control of a multiple dwelling site shall permit an enumerator who has produced identification documents prescribed by the Chief Electoral Officer to enumerate between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. at each residential unit in the multiple dwelling site.

(3) A person to whom an enumerator has produced identification documents referred to in subsection (2) shall not (

a) obstruct or interfere with, or (

b) cause or permit the obstruction or interference with, the free access of an enumerator to each residential unit in a multiple dwelling site. RSA 2000 cE-1 s29;2004 c23 s17 Conducting an enumeration 30(1) In this section, “assigned residence” means a residence selected by the Chief Electoral Officer or returning officer in respect of which the information required for the register may be incomplete or incorrect.

(2) An enumerator shall contact, in the manner directed by the Chief Electoral Officer or returning officer, each assigned residence in the voting area to determine which persons residing in the assigned residence (

a) are Canadian citizens, (

b) are at least 18 years of age, and (

c) repealed 2017 c29 s19,

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Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 44 (

d) are ordinarily resident in the electoral division and voting area for which those persons are to have their names included on the list of electors, as of a date determined by the Chief Electoral Officer, and shall record on the form provided by the Chief Electoral Officer the information referred to in

section 13(2)(

a) to (

f) with respect to those persons. (3),

(4) Repealed 2021 c24 s4(27).

(5) When visiting assigned residences, the enumerator shall wear and prominently display the enumerator’s identification documents.

(6) Repealed 2021 c24 s4(27).

(7) The enumerator may contact the assigned residences in the enumerator’s voting area only between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. (8) to

(10) Repealed 2021 c24 s4(27).

(11) The Chief Electoral Officer may direct an enumerator not to visit an assigned residence if, in the enumerator’s opinion, the safety of the enumerator may be at risk. RSA 2000 cE-1 s30;2004 c23 s18;2012 c5 s11;2017 c29 s19; 2021 c24 s4(27) 31 to 33 Repealed 2021 c24 s4(28). 34 Repealed 2017 c29 s20. 35 Repealed 2017 c29 s21. 36 Repealed 2017 c29 s22. 37 Repealed 2017 c29 s23. 38 Repealed 2021 c24 s4(28).

Part 3 Elections, By-Elections and Plebiscites General election dates 38.1(1) Nothing in this

section affects the powers of the Lieutenant Governor, including the power to dissolve the

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Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 45 Legislature, in His Majesty’s name, when the Lieutenant Governor sees fit.

(2) Subject to subsection (1), election day for a general election shall be the third Monday in October in the 4th calendar year following the election day of the most recent general election. 2011 c19 s2;2017 c29 s24;2021 c24 s4(29);AR 217/2022;2024 c9 s2 Authorization to issue writ of election 39 Every election shall be commenced by the passing of an order of the Lieutenant Governor in Council (

a) authorizing the issue of a writ of election in the prescribed form directed and addressed to the returning officer of each electoral division for which an election is to take place, (

b) fixing the date of the writ, (

i) which must be the same for all writs in the case of a general election, and (ii) which must be the same as the date of the order in the case of a by-election, (

c) appointing the 10th day after the date of the writ as nomination day, or if the 10th day is a holiday, the next following day not being a holiday, (

d) providing that, where voting is necessary, the 28th day after the date of the writ is the day on which voting is to take place, or if the 28th day is a holiday, the next following day not being a holiday, and (

e) directing that the writ be returned as provided by this Act. RSA 2000 cE-1 s39;2012 c5 s15 Issue of writ of election 40(1) On receipt of an order under

section 39, the Chief Electoral Officer shall (

a) issue writs in accordance with the order, and (

b) transmit each writ to the returning officer to whom it is addressed.

(2) Immediately on receiving a writ, the returning officer shall endorse on it the date on which it was received by the returning officer. RSA 1980 cE-2 s37

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Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 46 Writ not affected 41 The validity of any proceedings taken under a writ is not affected by the appointment of a new or acting returning officer. RSA 1980 cE-2 s38 Forms and materials 42 When transmitting a writ to a returning officer, or as soon as practicable after transmitting the writ to a returning officer, the Chief Electoral Officer shall also forward sufficient copies of the lists of electors for the electoral division and a supply of election forms and materials. RSA 2000 cE-1 s42;2017 c29 s25 Persons eligible to vote 43(1) For the purposes of subsection (2)(

a) and (b), “identification” means identification as defined in

section 100(2).

(2) Subject to

section 45, an elector is eligible to vote at a voting place for a candidate in the electoral division where the elector is ordinarily resident if (

a) the elector’s name appears on the list of electors for the voting area, the elector’s identification matches the name on the list of electors and (

i) the address on the elector ’s identification matches the elector’s address as shown on the list of electors, or, (ii) the address on the elector’s identification does not match the elector’s address as shown on the list of electors but the elector confirms that the elector is ordinarily resident in the voting area by (

A) providing one or more documents that satisfy an election officer on reasonable grounds that the elector is ordinarily resident in the voting area, and (

B) signing a declaration as required under

section 100.2(c), (

b) the elector’s name does not appear on the list of electors for the voting area and (

i) the address on the elector ’s identification demonstrates that the elector is ordinarily resident in the voting area and the elector signs a declaration under

section 100.4(c), or (ii) the elector confirms the elector is ordinarily resident in the voting area by

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Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 47 (

A) providing one or more documents that satisfy an election officer on reasonable grounds that the elector is ordinarily resident in the voting area, and (

B) signing a declaration under

section 100.4, or (

c) the elector’s name has been entered in the Special Ballot voting record and the elector (

i) has completed and signed

part 1 of the certificate referred to in

section 118(2)(d), and (ii) has provided a copy of the elector’s prescribed identification document or documents in accordance with

section 118(2)(e).

(3) This

section does not apply to (

a) an initiative petition or an initiative vote under the Citizen Initiative Act, or (

b) a recall petition or a recall vote under the Recall Act. RSA 2000 cE-1 s43;2012 c5 s16;2017 c29 s26;2021 c24 s4(30); 2025 c7 s6(9) Absentee voters 44(1) A person who is otherwise eligible as an elector but who does not meet the residence requirements of

section 16(

d) because the person’s ordinary place of residence is outside Alberta for the purpose of carrying out the person’s function as (

a) a member of the House of Commons of Canada representing an electoral district in Alberta, (

b) a member of the Senate of Canada representing Alberta, or (

c) an employee of the Government of Alberta is, for the purposes of voting, deemed to be and to have been for the required period ordinarily resident in the voting area of the electoral division in which the person last resided in Alberta and is eligible to have the person’s name entered on the list of electors for that voting area and to vote at an election.

(2) A person who

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Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 48 (

a) is the spouse or adult interdependent partner or a dependant of and is ordinarily resident with a person described in subsection (1), and (

b) is otherwise eligible as an elector, is, for the purposes of voting, deemed to be and to have been for the required period ordinarily resident in the same voting area as the person described in subsection (1) and is eligible to have the person’s name entered on the list of electors for that voting area and to vote at an election.

(3) An application to have a name entered on the lists of electors must be made to the Chief Electoral Officer before the time fixed for concluding revisions to the lists under

section 50. RSA 2000 cE-1 s44;2002 cA-4.5 s32;2021 c24 s4(31) Persons ineligible to vote 45 Persons prohibited from voting under

section 178(4)(

e) or 181(1) are not eligible to vote at an election. RSA 2000 cE-1 s45;2003 c41 s4(27);2010 c8 s14 Appointment of election officers 45.1(1) Subject to

section 120(2)(c), the Chief Electoral Officer shall appoint, or provide for the appointment by returning officers of, election officers who shall be assigned to perform the duties and functions of election officers as established by the Chief Electoral Officer, including but not limited to the following duties and functions: (

a) place signs to direct atten tion to voting places and post bulletins at voting stations and voting places; (

b) immediately before the opening of voting places, (

i) show ballot boxes to the persons present so that they may see that the ballot boxes are empty, (ii) seal the ballot boxes so that they cannot be opened without breaking the seal, and (iii) place and maintain the ba llot boxes on a desk, table, counter or similar place so that the ballot boxes are raised above the floor and constantly in the view of all persons present; (

c) maintain the ballots provided to them in a secure manner;

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Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 49 (

d) keep ballot boxes sealed, maintain the security of ballot boxes and assist electors in depositing their ballots in ballot boxes; (

e) maintain the voting record in the manner directed by the Chief Electoral Officer; (

f) administer voting and take affidavits, oaths and declarations as required under this Act; (

g) provide voter assistance, at the request of a voter, under

section 96; (

h) instruct, assist and respond to questions from electors; (

i) assist electors who are not on the list of electors in the completion of declarations; (

j) maintain peace and order at voting stations, in voting places and on the premises on which voting places are located; (

k) perform counts, or assist in counts, of unused ballots, declined ballots, spoiled ballots, valid ballots and rejected ballots after the close of voting on election day from (

i) advance voting, (ii) mobile voting, (iii) special ballot voting, and (iv) election day voting; (

l) decide on objections to ballots made by persons attending counts; (

m) complete Statements of Vote; (

n) provide overall supervisio n where there are multiple voting stations in a voting place; (

o) appoint, in the prescribed form, interpreters to translate questions and answers about voting procedures for persons not conversant in the English language; (

p) perform other duties and functions as required under this Act or by the Chief Electoral Officer or returning officer, as the case may be.

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Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 50

(2) Subject to the Chief Electoral Officer’s approval, each returning officer shall appoint election officers to assist them in performing the duties and functions of the returning officer.

(3) The Chief Electoral Officer shall ensure that election officers under the Chief Electoral Officer’s authority are trained sufficiently in order for the election officers to perform their duties and functions.

(4) Each returning officer shall ensure that election officers under the returning officer’s authority are trained sufficiently in order for the election officers to perform their duties and functions.

(5) The Chief Electoral Officer shall provide all necessary supplies to election officers under the Chief Electoral Officer’s authority in sufficient time to enable each election officer to adequately and efficiently carry out their duties and functions.

(6) Each returning officer shall provide all necessary supplies to election officers under the returning officer’s authority in sufficient time to enable each election officer to adequately and efficiently carry out their duties and functions.

(7) The Chief Electoral Officer or a returning officer, as the case may be, shall ensure that election officers are appointed for each voting place to effectively operate the voting place and each voting station within the voting place in accordance with this Act.

(8) Each returning officer shall designate one election officer in each voting place as the supervisor of the voting place, who shall be responsible for (

a) conducting any duties designated in this Act for the supervisor of a voting place, and (

b) supervising other election officers appointed to the voting place.

(9) Each election officer shall, before assuming their duties and functions, take the prescribed oath of office before the returning officer, election clerk or other election officer designated under

section 49.

(10) Subject to subsection (11), any election officer who is appointed to carry out duties in an electoral division, at the request of their supervisor, may be required to carry out the duties of any other election officer at any voting place in the electoral division if that other election officer is unable to carry out their own duties.

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Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 51

(11) Any election officer may perform the duties of another election officer, other than the duties of a returning officer or election clerk, if required or requested by the Chief Electoral Officer, returning officer or the election officer’s supervisor.

(12) If an election officer is required to perform the duties of another election officer, the election officer is not required to take another oath.

(13) If an election officer is unable or unwilling to act or neglects the election officer’s duties, the Chief Electoral Officer or returning officer, as the case may be, may appoint another election officer in the election officer’s place. 2021 c24 s4(32) Persons ineligible to be election officers 46(1) The following persons shall not be appointed or act as returning officers or election clerks: (

a) persons who are not electors; (

b) members of the Parliament of Canada; (

c) members of the Legislative Assembly; (

d) municipal councillors; (

e) school board trustees; (

f) candidates; (

g) official agents; (g.1) chief financial officers; (

h) judges of federal or provincial courts; (

i) persons who have, within the immediately preceding 10 years, been convicted of an indictable offence where the penalty that may be imposed for that offence is greater than 2 years’ imprisonment.

(2) The persons listed in clauses (

b) to (

i) shall not be appointed or act as an election officer. RSA 2000 cE-1 s46;2004 c23 s24;2010 c8 s15;2012 cE-0.3 s266; 2017 c29 s27;2025 c7 s6(10) Appointment of election clerks 47(1) In preparation for the conduct of an election in an electoral division, the Chief Electoral Officer shall appoint an election clerk.

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Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 52

(2) If an election clerk is unable or unwilling to act or neglects the election clerk’s duties, the Chief Electoral Officer may appoint another election clerk in the election clerk’s place.

(3) The Chief Electoral Officer may appoint additional election clerks for an electoral division as the Chief Electoral Officer considers necessary.

(4) Repealed 2017 c29 s28.

(5) Each election clerk shall, before assuming the election clerk’s duties, take the prescribed oath of office. RSA 2000 cE-1 s47;2004 c23 s25;2010 c8 s16;2012 c5 s17; 2017 c29 s28 47.1 Repealed 2021 c24 s4(33). Duties of election clerks 48(1) An election clerk shall assist the returning officer in the performance of the returning officer’s duties and, if the returning officer becomes ineligible to hold the office or is unable or unwilling to act and has not been replaced by a successor, the election clerk or, if there is more than one, the election clerk first appointed, shall act as returning officer.

(2) When an election clerk is acting as a returning officer, the election clerk is liable for the election clerk’s acts or omissions in the election clerk’s capacity as returning officer as if the election clerk had been appointed a returning officer.

(3) An election clerk acting as a returning officer is not required to take the oath of a returning officer. RSA 1980 cE-2 s44 Oaths and affidavits 49(1) An oath or affidavit required under this Act from any person except a returning officer may be sworn before the returning officer for the relevant electoral division or any election officer designated by the Chief Electoral Officer.

(2) An oath or affidavit required under this Act from any person except a returning officer or election clerk may be sworn before the election clerk for the relevant electoral division or any election officer designated by the Chief Electoral Officer. RSA 2000 cE-1 s49;2017 c29 s30 Revision of voting area lists 50(1) Immediately following receipt of a writ, the returning officer shall have available in the returning officer’s office and in any

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Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 53 other location as directed by the Chief Electoral Officer one copy of the list of electors transmitted by the Chief Electoral Officer.

(1.1) Following the issuance of the writ, an elector may apply to the returning officer in the elector’s electoral division or to the Chief Electoral Officer for a revision to the list.

(2) The period for considering applications for revisions to the list shall (a), (

b) repealed 2017 c29 s31, (

c) conclude at 4 p.m. on the Saturday of the week preceding the opening of advance voting.

(3) Section 13.1 applies with all necessary modifications to revisions under this section.

(4) Repealed 2017 c29 s31. RSA 2000 cE-1 s50;2004 c23 s27;2017 c29 s31;2021 c24 s4(34) Access to electors list and revisions 51(1) The list of electors and a separate list of additions to or revisions of the list of electors shall be available in the office of the returning officer to any person for the purpose of (

a) determining whether the person’s name is on the list of electors, or (

b) verifying whether the information about the person is correct.

(2) The lists referred to in subsection (1) shall be available from the date the Chief Electoral Officer issues a writ of election under

section 40 until the end of election day.

(3) A candidate or the candidate’s official agent may inspect the list of electors and a separate list of additions to or revisions of the list of electors following the commencement of the revision period and may request copies of the list of electors and additions to the list of electors.

(4) Any person requesting access to the information in the lists for the purposes set out in subsection (1) or (3) shall complete and sign a declaration. RSA 2000 cE-1 s51;2004 c23 s28;2010 c8 s18;2021 c24 s4(35)

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Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 54 Location of voting places 52(1) Each returning officer shall, following receipt of the writ, provide voting places at which the voting stations for each voting area within the returning officer’s electoral division will be located.

(2) The returning officer must locate voting places within a voting area in a manner that meets the following requirements: (

a) on election day, at least 95% of the electors’ ordinary residences in the voting area are within 50 km of a voting place; (

b) in each population centre with at least 1000 residents there is at least one voting place on voting day.

(2.1) For the purposes of subsection (2), the number of residents in a population centre is to be determined from (

a) the most recent order specifying population in accordance with

section 604.1 of the Municipal Government Act, or (

b) the most recent information respecting the population, as the returning officer considers appropriate, including information from (

i) the most recent decennial census of population referred to in subsection 19(3) of the Statistics Act (Canada), or (ii) the most recent province ‑wide census that is more recent than the decennial census referred to in subclause (i).

(3) Every voting place must, where practicable, be located in premises with barrier-free accessibility.

(4) A returning officer may utilize as a voting place any public building or any school that is the property of any school division organized under any Act if the building or school is suitable for the purpose.

(5) There may be more than one voting station located in a voting place.

(6) A voting place does not need to be located in the voting area but shall be located in the electoral division.

(6.1) Notwithstanding subsection (6), with the prior written approval of the Chief Electoral Officer a voting place may be in an adjacent electoral division if the returning officer is unable to find a suitable place in the electoral division for the voting place or voting station.

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Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 55

(7) No voting place may be situated in licensed premises. RSA 2000 cE-1 s52;2004 c23 s29;2012 cE-0.3 s266;2017 c29 s32; 2021 c24 s4(36);2025 c7 s6(11) Location of voting places on Indian reserves and Metis settlements 52.1(1) In preparation for an election, the Chief Electoral Officer shall consult with the council of each Indian band and with the settlement council and settlement administrator of each Metis settlement to determine whether a suitable building located on the Indian reserve or Metis settlement may be used as a voting place for electors who are residents on the Indian reserve or Metis settlement.

(2) If the council of an Indian band or the settlement council of a Metis settlement agrees to the use of a suitable building located on the Indian reserve or Metis settlement, the Chief Electoral Officer shall use the building as a voting place. 2017 c29 s33;2021 c24 s4(37) Designation of remote areas 52.2(1) The returning officer for an electoral division may designate, with the approval of the Chief Electoral Officer, any area of the electoral division as a remote area.

(2) An elector ordinarily resident in a designated remote area is eligible to vote by Special Ballot.

(3) A designated remote area is a voting area but no voting places may be established in it and no election officers may be appointed for it. 2021 c24 s4(38) Change of voting place 53(1) Subject to

section 4(3.1) and (3.5), if it is found to be impractical to hold the vote in a voting place or advance voting place fixed by the returning officer, the returning officer may fix a different voting place or advance voting place as near as possible to the location originally fixed and shall give immediate notice of the change to all candidates or their official agents and publish the change on the Chief Electoral Officer’s website and in any other manner the Chief Electoral Officer considers necessary.

(2) If a returning officer fixes a different voting place or advance voting place in accordance with subsection (1), the returning officer must, as soon as practicable, notify the electors in the voting area in a clear and accurate manner that states the location of the different voting place or advance voting place by posting (

a) a reasonable number of signs that, if possible,

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Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 56 (

i) are attached to or near the original voting place or advance voting place, and (ii) are in locations that are publicly visible, or (

b) a notice in any other manner that (

i) is considered appropriat e by the returning officer, and (ii) has general and immediate circulation to the electors in the voting area. RSA 2000 cE-1 s53;2017 c29 s34;2021 c24 s4(39);2025 c7 s6(12) Voting place signs 54(1) The Chief Electoral Officer shall prepare conspicuous signs for directing electors to the location of each voting place and shall distribute the signs to each returning officer.

(2) Each returning officer shall distribute the signs to the supervisor of each voting place in the returning officer’s electoral division.

(3) The supervisor of each voting place shall place, or shall direct election officers at each voting place to place, the signs at locations that will best direct attention to the voting place. RSA 2000 cE-1 s54;2004 c23 s30;2012 c5 s19;2021 c24 s4(40) Publication of election proclamation 55(1) Each returning officer shall, as soon as possible but not later than the 5th day before nomination day, issue a proclamation containing the following: (

a) repealed 2017 c29 s35, (

b) the place and hours fixed for the nomination of candidates and the date fixed for the closing of nominations, (

c) the place, dates and hours fixed for advance voting if voting is necessary, (

d) the date of election day and the hours at which the voting places will open and close if voting is necessary, (

e) the date and time for announcing the results of the official count, that date being the 10th day after election day, and (

f) the name of the returning o fficer and the contact information for the returning officer’s office.

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Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 57

(2) A returning officer shall post a copy of the following in the returning officer’s office: (

a) the proclamation referred to in subsection (1); (

b) a map of the electoral di vision including the numbered voting areas; (

c) a list of the locations of voting places; (

d) a statement of the availab ility of barrier-free accessibility to the office of the returning officer and to advance voting places; (

e) repealed 2017 c29 s35.

(2.1) The Chief Electoral Officer shall, as soon as possible, publish the information in the proclamation referred to in subsection (1)(

b) to (

f) and the information referred to in subsection (2)(

b) and (

d) on the Chief Electoral Officer’s website and in any other manner determined by the Chief Electoral Officer that provides electors with adequate notice of the election.

(3) Repealed 2017 c29 s35.

(4) If any of the information published under subsection (2.1) is or becomes inaccurate, the Chief Electoral Officer shall (

a) publish details of the correction on the Chief Electoral Officer’s website and in any other manner in which the Chief Electoral Officer has published the information under subsection (2.1), and (

b) immediately provide to all candidates or their official agents written details of the correction.

(5) Repealed 2017 c29 s35. RSA 2000 cE-1 s55;2004 c23 s31;2010 c8 s19;2012 c5 s20; 2017 c29 s35;2021 c24 s4(41) Eligibility 56 A person is eligible to be nominated as a candidate in an election if on the day the person’s nomination paper is filed the person (

a) is a Canadian citizen, (

b) is of the full age of 18 years or will be that age on election day,

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Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 58 (

c) has been ordinarily resident in Alberta continuously from the day 6 months immediately preceding election day, (c.1) is registered under

section 9 of the Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act, (c.2) is not an inmate, (

d) is not prohibited from being nominated as a candidate under this Act by reason of

section 57, 58, 178 or 181, and (

e) is not a member of the Senate or House of Commons of Canada. RSA 2000 cE-1 s56;2004 c23 s32;2010 c8 s20; 2017 c29 s36;2021 c24 s4(42) Prohibition against nomination 57 A person is prohibited from being nominated as a candidate in an election if (

a) the Speaker has laid a report before the Assembly pursuant to

section 44(1) of the Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act, (

b) that person was the regi stered candidate or the chief financial officer of the registered candidate referred to in the report, (

c) the Court did not dispense with compliance with

section 43, 43.02 or 43.1 of that Act by an order under

section 44(4) of that Act, and (

d) nomination day for the election occurs within (

i) the 8-year period following the day on which the Speaker laid the report before the Assembly, or (ii) where the return has been filed with the Chief Electoral Officer, the 5-year period following the day of filing, whichever period expires first. RSA 2000 cE-1 s57;2010 c8 s21;2016 c29 s52;2025 c7 s6(13) Prohibition against nomination 58 A person is prohibited from being nominated as a candidate in an election if (

a) that person has been declared disqualified from membership of the Legislative Assembly pursuant to

section 29 of the Legislative Assembly Act or has been expelled from

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Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 59 membership of the Legislative Assembly pursuant to

section 29 of the Conflicts of Interest Act, (

b) nomination day for the election occurs within the 8-year period following the day on which the declaration of disqualification or expulsion was made, and (

c) the cause of the di squalification under the Legislative Assembly Act or of the breach under the Conflicts of Interest Act has not been removed by nomination day. 1983 cL-10.1 s54;1991 cC-22.1 s50 Nomination of candidates 59(1) At any time during the period referred to in subsection (1.01), any 100 or more electors of an electoral division may nominate a person eligible to be a candidate as a candidate in that electoral division by signing a nomination paper in the prescribed form.

(1.01) The period for the purpose of subsection (1) is as follows: (

a) repealed 2021 c24 s4(43); (

b) in the case of a general election, the period commencing with the issue of a writ for the general election and ending on nomination day; (

c) in the case of a by-election, the period commencing with the issue of a writ for the by-election and ending on nomination day. (

d) repealed 2025 c7 s6(14).

(1.02) No elector may sign more than one nomination paper in respect of the same election.

(1.03) No person may directly or indirectly induce or attempt to induce an elector to sign more than one nomination paper in respect of the same election.

(1.1) The nomination paper referred to in subsection (1) must be filed with the returning officer for the electoral division for which the person is being nominated at any time prior to 2 p.m. on the date appointed as nomination day.

(2) The signatures of the electors nominating a candidate must be witnessed by another elector who shall complete the required affidavit on the nomination paper prior to its filing.

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(3) A candidate whose nomination papers are not filed with the returning officer prior to the time set for the closing of nominations ceases to be a candidate on the closing of nominations.

(4) At any one time, a person is not eligible to be nominated as a candidate in more than one electoral division.

(5) An elector resident in an electoral division, on application to the returning officer of that electoral division, may, during the period commencing on the day following nomination day and ending on election day, inspect the nomination papers filed by candidates in that electoral division. RSA 2000 cE-1 s59;2010 c8 s22;2012 c5 s21;2017 c29 s37; 2021 c24 s4(43);2025 c7 s6(14);2025 c22 s3 Verifying signatures 59.1(1) In determining if a nomination paper contains the number of signatures required in accordance with

section 59(1), the Chief Electoral Officer must not include in the count the signature of (

a) an individual who is not an elector in the electoral division, or (

b) an individual who has signed more than one nomination paper in respect of the same election.

(2) For greater certainty, a nomination paper referred to in

section 59(1) is valid if, after discounting signatures that are not included under subsection (1), the nomination paper contains the number of signatures required under

section 59(1). 2025 c22 s3 Official agents of candidates 60(1) Each person being nominated as a candidate shall appoint an elector to be the person’s official agent on the person’s nomination and shall include the name and contact information of the person so appointed in the appropriate place in the nomination form.

(1.1) No candidate shall act as an official agent.

(1.2) A person may act as an official agent only in respect of one of the following: (

a) one or more of the endorsed candidates of one registered political party; (

b) an independent candidate.

(2) The duties of an official agent are those prescribed by the candidate.

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(3) The official agent shall not perform the duties of the chief financial officer unless the official agent is the candidate’s chief financial officer.

(4) If it becomes necessary to appoint a new official agent, the candidate shall immediately notify the returning officer in writing of the name and contact information of the person so appointed. RSA 2000 cE-1 s60;2004 c23 s33;2017 c29 s38;2025 c7 s6(15) Filing nomination papers 61(1) A nomination paper is not valid and shall not be accepted for filing by the returning officer unless the original nomination paper is submitted for filing and (

a) it contains a properly completed affidavit of the attesting witness or witnesses, as the case may be, to the signatures of the nominating electors, (a.1) it is signed by the candidate, (

b) it states an address within Alberta at which documents may be served and notices given respecting the candidate, (

c) it contains the appointment, name, address and telephone number of the official agent immediately followed, subject to clause (d), by the signature of the person being nominated, (

d) the person being nominated confirms by affidavit (

i) that the person is eligible under

section 56 for nomination, (ii) that the person consents to the person’s nomination, (iii) the appointment of the person’s official agent, (iv) that the person is the of ficially endorsed candidate of a registered political party or is an independent candidate, and the confirmation is filed with the nomination paper, (d.1) the person being nominated provides the returning officer with identification in a form prescribed by the Chief Electoral Officer, (d.2) if, at the time the original nomination paper is submitted for filing, the person being nominated holds office as a municipal councillor or school board trustee, the person provides the returning officer with proof of the person’s

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Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 62 unpaid leave of absence from the role under

section 61.1, and (

e) repealed 2021 c24 s4(44), (

f) it is filed with the returning officer prior to 2 p.m. on the date appointed as nomination day.

(2) If the person being nominated is to be the candidate of a registered political party, the person shall, at the time of filing the person’s nomination paper, file a certificate in the prescribed form stating that the nominee is the candidate for that registered political party.

(3) On the filing of a valid nomination paper, the returning officer shall give a receipt in the prescribed form, which is proof of the filing of the nomination paper.

(4) Repealed 2021 c24 s4(44). RSA 2000 cE-1 s61;2004 c23 s34;2010 c8 s23;2012 c5 s22; 2017 c29 s39;2021 c24 s4(44);2025 c7 s6(16) Municipal councillor or school board trustee leave of absence 61.1(1) A person who is a municipal councillor or school board trustee and who wishes to be nominated as a candidate in an election or a by-election may, in accordance with subsection (2), provide written notice to the municipal council or school board, as the case may be, that the person is taking a leave of absence without pay under this section.

(2) A person must provide a notice under subsection (1) before the person’s last working day before the day the writ is issued for the election or the by-election, as the case may be, to which the notice relates.

(3) Despite any bylaw, resolution or agreement of a municipal council or school board, a person who notifies a municipal council or school board, as the case may be, in accordance with subsection (1) is entitled to a leave of absence without pay in accordance with subsections (4) to (9).

(4) A leave of absence referred to in subsection (3) begins on the day the writ is issued for the election or the by-election to which it relates and ends in accordance with subsections (6) to (8), as applicable.

(5) While a person is taking a leave of absence in accordance with subsection (3),

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Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 63 (

a) the person is deemed not to be a municipal councillor or school board trustee, as the case may be, (

b) the person must not purport to exercise the powers or perform the duties of a municipal councillor or school board trustee, as the case may be, and (

c) the municipal council or sc hool board, as the case may be, (

i) must not treat the office fo r which the person is taking a leave of absence as vacant, and (ii) for greater certainty, may not hold a by-election for that office.

(6) If a person who takes a leave of absence in accordance with subsection (3) is not declared elected under this Act, (

a) the person is considered to hold the office to which the leave of absence relates as of the day (

i) another person is declared elected in accordance with

section 138(1)(a), 147(1)(

a) or 148(8)(a), or (ii) the returning officer decl ares that no candidate can be declared elected in the electoral division in which the person is a candidate in accordance with

section 148(8)(b), and (

b) the leave of absence ends on the day before the day referred to in clause (a)(

i) or (ii), as the case may be.

(7) Subject to subsection (8), if a person who takes a leave of absence in accordance with subsection (3) is declared elected under this Act, (

a) the person is deemed to have resigned as a municipal councillor or school board trustee, as the case may be, on the day the person takes the oath of allegiance as a member in accordance with

section 23 of the Legislative Assembly Act, and (

b) the leave of absence ends on the day before the day referred to in clause (a).

(8) Despite subsection (7), if a person who takes a leave of absence in accordance with subsection (3) is declared elected under this Act and files a disclaimer under

section 139(1),

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Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 64 (

a) the person is considered to hold the office to which the leave of absence relates as of the day the disclaimer is filed, and (

b) the leave of absence ends on the day before the day referred to in clause (a).

(9) For greater certainty, a resignation, disqualification or expulsion as a member in accordance with

Part 2 of the Legislative Assembly Act is not to be considered to revive or entitle the person who resigned, was disqualified or was expelled to hold the office to which subsection (7) applied in respect of that person. 2025 c7 s6(17) 62 Repealed 2021 c24 s4(45). Material to be provided to candidate 63 The returning officer, on filing a nomination paper, shall provide to the candidate, (

a) if the candidate is the ca ndidate of a registered political party, (

i) one copy of the proclamation, (ii) one list of the locatio ns of the voting places, and (iii) a sufficient number of copi es of the prescribed form for the appointment of scrutineers, and (

b) in every other case, (

i) one copy of the proclamation, (ii) one map of the electoral division indicating the numbered voting areas, (iii) one list of the loca tions of the voting places, (iv) a sufficient number of copi es of the prescribed form for the appointment of scrutineers, and (

v) in accordance w ith the candidate’s request, one printed copy or one copy in electronic form, or both, of the list of electors for each voting area in the electoral division. RSA 2000 cE-1 s63;2004 c23 s36;2012 c5 s24;2021 c24 s4(46)

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Chapter E-1 ELECTION ACT 65 Election by acclamation 64 If only one candidate is nominated by the time nominations close for an electoral division, the returning officer shall (

a) immediately declare that candidate elected, (

b) make the returning officer’s return in the prescribed form to the Chief Electoral Officer certifying the election of the candidate, and (

c) as soon as possible return to the Chief Electoral Officer the writ of election and all other election materials. RSA 1980 cE-2 s58 Withdrawal of candidate 65(1) At any time after the filing of the candidate’s nomination paper but not later than 48 hours before the opening of the vote on election day, the candidate may withdraw by filing with the returning off