Alberta Provincial Election

Am I eligible to vote?

To be eligible to vote in Alberta, you must be:

• A Canadian citizen
• A resident of Alberta*
• 18 or older by Voting Day

*Okay so the term ‘resident’ is quite vague. What if you’re an Albertan studying in Ontario, or a Nova Scotian spending time in Alberta? Don’t stress! Elections Alberta spells out all of these details. Check out their “who can vote” page for a breakdown of what ‘resident’ actually means.

When and where can I vote?

On election day

You can vote in person on election day on May 29, 2023 from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM (Mountain Standard Time) at the voting location assigned to you based on your current residential address. Click here to find out where to vote on election day 

During advance voting 

Advance voting is open May 23rd, 2023 to May 27th, 2023! During this time, you can vote at any polling station that offers advanced voting. Polling stations are open from 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM (Mountain Standard Time). 

Click here to find out where to vote during advance voting

At your local returning office

You can vote in person at your returning office between May 2 and May 29, 2023. Returning offices are open from 9am to 6pm on weekdays, from 10am to 4pm on Saturdays, and from 9am to 8pm on election day. Find your local returning office here

By mail

Avoid the crowds altogether and apply to vote by Special Ballot. If you're considering this option, keep in mind that you are required to state your reason, as not everyone is able to vote by Special Ballot. Valid reasons include: being physically disabled, away from your electoral division, an inmate, an election officer, a candidate, an official agent or scrutineer, or living in a remote area as defined in the Election Act. You can apply for a Special Ballot here. Requests for a Special Ballot must be made by May 22, 2023. Once you have received your Special Ballot in the mail, follow these instructions to place your vote.

Learn about accessibility provisions and language support here

Do I need to register to vote?

Yes and no. You do need to register in order to vote, however, you do not need to register in advance, meaning you can register at the polling station on election day. Registering at the polls might mean spending a little more time waiting in line, so we recommend registering to vote online in advance. Register to vote here!

Do I need to bring ID to vote?

Yes and no. You are required to prove your identity and physical address. There are over 50 types of identification that can be accepted at the polling stations from your Alberta Driver’s Licence to your Personal Health Card and a utility bill.

Find all your ID options here

If you do not have sufficient ID (make sure to check the above list first as there are many acceptable ID options), you can have a registered voter in your district vouch for you. Learn more about what to do if you don’t have ID here

How do I know who to vote for?

Choosing who to vote for can be really difficult! But we got you! Follow Apathy is Boring on Instagram where we’ll break down everything you need to know about the upcoming election including who’s running and what they stand for.

Voters are entitled to three consecutive, non-work hours to vote on an advance polling day, or on election day. 

If your work schedule can’t accommodate you to take three consecutive hours off, your employer must provide extra time off. 

This doesn't mean you get to just take off from work for three hours though. It just means you have to be given a window of three hours to vote at some point during the day. So if you work from 12:30 PM to 8:30 PM, you still have three hours before your shift begins to vote (9:30 AM to 12:00 PM).

Your boss can't dock your pay or penalize you for taking the time to vote. You have to be paid your regular wage for the hours you're not working while you vote. Have that conversation with your employer now, as they have the right to decide when you get your time off!

If you already know you're going to be busy or away on vacation (lucky you) on Election Day, make a plan to vote early!

You have options:

During advance voting 

Advance voting is open May 23rd, 2023 to May 27th, 2023! During this time, you can vote at any polling station that offers advanced voting. Polling stations are open from 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM (Mountain Standard Time). 

Click here to find out where to vote during advance voting

At your local returning office

You can vote in person at your returning office between May 2 and May 29, 2023. Returning offices are open from 9am to 6pm on weekdays, from 10am to 4pm on Saturdays, and from 9am to 8pm on election day. Find your local returning office here

By mail

Avoid the crowds altogether and apply to vote by Special Ballot. If you're considering this option, keep in mind that you are required to state your reason, as not everyone is able to vote by Special Ballot. Valid reasons include: being physically disabled, away from your electoral division, an inmate, an election officer, a candidate, an official agent or scrutineer, or living in a remote area as defined in the Election Act. You can apply for a Special Ballot here. Requests for a Special Ballot must be made by May 22, 2023. Once you have received your Special Ballot in the mail, follow these instructions to place your vote.

If you’ve left your home address to study elsewhere within Alberta, you have two options:

Vote using your old home address

If you can access your home district’s polling station, go there. If you can’t make the trip, request a special mail in ballot to vote by mail!

Vote using your campus address

If you’re living in residence, simply register at a polling station by bringing a piece of ID, and a completed attestation form, signed by someone who represents your University or College.

I live in a remote or isolated area?

Vote by mail! You can register for a special ballot online anytime leading up to election day. All special ballots will be shipped out once the writ drops on May 1st. For your vote to count, all ballots must be received before 8:00PM on election day. 

I’m living in an Indigenous community or reserve?

You can choose to vote by mail, or call 1.877.422.VOTE (8683) to find your nearest polling station. 

Elections Alberta provides translated information on the voting process, eligibility to vote, how to mark a ballot and voting options in 27 languages, including several Indigenous languages.

I’m living abroad?

Alberta residents living outside of Alberta can register to vote by mail. Eligibility requirements are: 

• A Canadian citizen;
• Temporarily residing outside of Alberta
• have only one place of ordinary residence
• intent on returning to Alberta

Request your mail in ballot early to make sure it’s shipped to you as soon as the writ drops on May 1st!

I’m currently without a home?

To support those living in treatment centers, emergency shelters, or community support centers, Elections Alberta offers mobile voting locations.

To vote at a mobile voting place you must reside, or access services from the support center. No identification is required, but a facility representative must confirm that you are resident of or receiving services at that location.

Check out these free resources to learn more about democracy and citizenship! 

And, thanks to a partnership with Alberta Education, 16- and 17-year olds in the Alberta school system are automatically pre-registered to vote.