Ag on i t c e S INSI
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Wednesday, April 5, 2023 Vol. 46, No. 14
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Voting info sent out as provincial election nears Up to 20,000 staff still needs to be hired and trained for this election Patricia Harcourt Editor
As we get closer to the set voting date of the May 29 provincial election, Elections Alberta is sending information in the mail urging residents to register to vote. And across 87 electoral divisions, up to 20,000 staff will have to be hired to deliver voting services to Albertans. As of March 29, households across Alberta started getting information in their mailboxes on registering to vote in the provincial general election. Electors are encouraged to register or update their information at www.voterlink.ab.ca, or by calling the Provincial Contact Centre at 1-877-422-8683. The Contact Centre is open from 8:15 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. Those eligible to vote must be a Canadian citizen, 18 years and over in age, and a resident of Alberta. Electors accessing the online registration system can find their voter record by using the PIN and house/access number found on the Register to Vote letter or by using their Alberta Driver’s Licence or Alberta Identification Card number. There are more instructions on registering online at the Elections Alberta website. Electors needing more support to register can call the Contact Centre for help. People who have mailbox addresses are being encouraged to register with their physical address. Having both physical and mailing addresses expands the voter’s options for identification that can be accepted at the place of voting. All electors must be registered to vote at their current physical address before being issued a ballot. “While this process can be completed at a voting place, it does lengthen the time required to vote,” states Pamela Renwick, Deputy Chief Electoral Officer. “Electors must be registered to vote to cast their ballots,” she explained. “Registration is already open
and takes less than five minutes online. Doing it early is the best way to ensure an easy and efficient visit to the ballot box.” Every household in the province will receive “Where to Vote” cards before voting day(s). The card provides details on the closest advance voting stations and the household’s assigned voting location on Election Day. New for this election, electors can now opt-in to receive their “Where to Vote” card by email, ensuring they have it handy when they arrive at the voting place. “Where to Vote” card selections can be made online during the registration process at www.voterlink.ab.ca or by calling the Provincial Contact Centre. All electors will have to show ID to prove their identity, and a physical address. There are four ways
to do this including showing a Driver’s License or Identification card; presenting two pieces of ID, one with a person’s name and the other a current physical address (i.e. health card, employee ID or utility bill); having someone in your voting area vouch for you; or, completing an attestation form. Electors with both a P.O. box and other mailing address on their identification are encouraged to register to vote with both their physical and mailing address. If this has been done, only ID with a mailing address will be needed, but those who don’t will need ID showing their physical address to register when they go to vote. There are four options for voting: on election day at the appointed polling station, at one of over 300 advance polling stations from Tuesday, May 23, to Continued on Page 2