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2026 Alberta Referendum

The Alberta Referendum is taking place October 19, 2026 with polls open from 9 am to 8 pm.


ON ELECTION DAY:  Make sure you’re in line to vote before 8 pm; doors will close, and no voters will be let in afterwards. However, once you’re in, you’re in, and can complete your ballots.

Heads-up: In-person voting wait times are expected to be longer than average; please be patient and stick it out!

QUICK INFO REGISTER TO VOTE WHERE TO VOTE VOTE BY MAIL* 

*mail your completed ballot back to Elections Alberta no later than Friday, Oct. 9

  • In a referendum, electors can expect to respond to a question (or multiple questions), generally with a “yes” or “no” vote

  • Questions providing a choice  in your vote (not just a “yes” or “no” vote) are also possible

  • What questions are on this referendum? See the 10 questions on this overview.

Stay informed before you participate:

These questions may be fairly complicated to understand at first. Consider spending extra time thinking about each question and seeking out additional information on them before voting. For example, this Cochrane Eagle article or this SAMRU post breaks down each question in simpler, basic language.


Looking for a content creator who shares clear & straightforward referendum info? Look no further than University of Calgary's Gabrielle Barber:

Question #1

Question #2

Question #3

Question #4

Question #5

Question #6

Question #7

Question #8

Question #9

Question #10

5 things you may not know about the referendum

Frequently Asked Questions:

People who are:

  • Canadian citizens

  • At least 18 years old

  • Residents of Alberta

For more information, please visit elections.ab.ca/voters/who-can-vote/

Voter guides are available in: 

العربية \ SIKSIKÁÍ'POWAHSIN \ DENESŲŁĮNE \ Dutch \ Français \  DEUTSCH \ English \ 

فارسی \ हिंदी  \ 한국어 \ ITALIANO \ MICHIF \ NEHIYAWAK \ POLSKI \ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ \ РУССКИЙ \ 简体中文 \ SOOMAALI \ Español \ ÎETHKA \ Tagalog \ ት ግ ር ኛ \ 繁體中文 \ українськиa \

اردو \ Tiếng Việt \ Sakawiyniw pekikskweywin 

Find them → elections.ab.ca/voters/assistance-in-your-language/

When can I vote?

Election day is October 19 from 9 am - 8 pm

→ Make sure you’re in line to vote before 8 pm; doors will close, and no voters will be let in afterwards. However, once you’re in, you’re in, and can complete your ballots.

Advance voting takes place from October 13 - 17

Heads-up: In-person voting wait times are expected to be longer than average; please be patient and stick it out! Plus, voting is your legal right – your employer is required to let you vote during work hours.

Didn’t register to vote? Don’t sweat it, you can register when you go vote!

Where do I vote?

Election day locations → map.elections.ab.ca

OR find them:

  • on your Where to Vote card (mailed or emailed in late Sept)

  • by contacting Elections Alberta at 1-877-422-VOTE (8683).

Advance voting locations→ elections.ab.ca/current-election-information/where-do-i-vote/

Don’t forget to bring ID to the polls:

Option 1: One piece of government-issued ID with your name and address, like your driver's licence or a provincial ID Card.

Option 2: Two pieces of ID with your full name and your current address, like an AB Health Care Card + a utility bill.

Option 3: Complete an attestation form before voting. Visit elections.ab.ca/voters/id-required-to-vote/ for more info.

Full list of accepted IDs: see Election Alberta's ID Required to Vote page

Applications to vote by mail are now closed. Completed special ballots must be received by the Chief Electoral Officer no later than 5 pm on Friday, October 16, 2026.

Canada Post recommends mailing it back no later than Friday, October 9, 2026.

It never hurts to triple-check your special ballots! Mistakes could result in a rejected ballot. 

Do I really have to include a printed copy of my ID?

YES. If you forgot it, you may have received an email to correct this. If not, call 1.877.672.1365

How do I check if my ballot has been received?

Online via the link in your confirmation email. If it hasn’t been received, you can still go vote in person.

Source: cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/elections-alberta-referendum-special-ballot-questions-9.7371465

What happens if I fold my ballot incorrectly?

It’s all good; completed and returned special ballot packages will be counted regardless of how they’re folded. 

Source: cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/elections-alberta-referendum-special-ballot-questions-9.7371465

Got questions or concerns? Call a Special Ballot Service Agent at 1.877.672.1365

Electors will receive TEN separate ballots. Each ballot will ask a separate question, meaning you will be asked a total of 10 questions.

When you’re at the polls, Elections Alberta cannot help you interpret the referendum questions.  

It’s important to read and reflect on the referendum questions before voting. 

Note: You do not have to answer all 10 questions. 

PSA! If you make a mistake, like tearing a ballot or marking a space that does not reflect your desired vote, you can request a replacement ballot from the election officer at your station.

Research:

→ Take time to research and read about the referendum questions from multiple trusted sources. 

Fact check:

→ Need help verifying information? Use the fact-checking tool at MediaSmarts.ca 

Talk about it!

→ Chat about the referendum with your friends, family,  and consult your community and non-partisan institutions.

The following questions are taken directly from Elections Alberta:

1. Do you support the Government of Alberta taking increased control over immigration for the purposes of decreasing immigration to more sustainable levels, prioritizing economic migration and giving Albertans first priority on new employment opportunities?

YES or NO

2. Do you support the Government of Alberta introducing a law mandating that only Canadian citizens, permanent residents and individuals with an Alberta­ approved immigration status will be eligible for provincially-funded programs, such as health care, education and other social services?

YES or NO

3. Assuming that all Canadian citizens and permanent residents continue to qualify for social support programs as they do now, do you support the Government of Alberta introducing a law requiring all individuals with a non-permanent legal immigration status to reside in Alberta for at least 12 months before qualifying for any provincially-funded social support programs?

YES or NO

4. Assuming that all Canadian citizens and permanent residents continue to qualify for public health care and education as they do now, do you support the Government of Alberta charging a reasonable fee or premium to individuals with a non-permanent immigration status living in Alberta for their and their family’s use of the healthcare and education systems?

YES or NO

5. Do you support the Government of Alberta introducing a law requiring individuals to provide proof of citizenship, such as a passport, birth certificate or citizenship card, to vote in an Alberta provincial election?

YES or NO

6. Do you support the Government of Alberta working with the governments of other willing provinces to amend the Canadian Constitution to have provincial governments, and not the federal government, select the justices appointed to provincial King’s Bench and Appeal courts?

YES or NO

7. Do you support the Government of Alberta working with the governments of other willing provinces to amend the Canadian Constitution to abolish the unelected federal Senate?

YES or NO

8. Do you support the Government of Alberta working with the governments of other willing provinces to amend the Canadian Constitution to allow provinces to opt out of federal programs that intrude on provincial jurisdiction such as health care, education, and social services, without a province losing any of the associated federal funding for use in its social programs?

YES or NO

9. Do you support the Government of Alberta working with the governments of other willing provinces to amend the Canadian Constitution to better protect provincial rights from federal interference by giving a province’s laws dealing with provincial or shared areas of constitutional jurisdiction priority over federal laws when the province’s laws and federal laws conflict?

YES or NO

10. Should Alberta remain a province of Canada, or should the Government of Alberta commence the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on whether or not Alberta should separate from Canada?

Option 1: Alberta should remain a province of Canada.

Option 2: The Government of Alberta should commence the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on whether or not Alberta should separate from Canada.