Alberta advance vote surges as parties push for election edge
More than half a million Albertans have cast an advance ballot ahead of Monday's provincial election.
That's a voting rate that should break the previous record of roughly 696,000 people, set in 2019.
Much of the push is likely spurred on by Elections Alberta's "Vote Anywhere" system. It lets the electorate to cast a ballot in a different district from their own, but only during the advance voting period this week.
The convenience has allowed voters to head to the polling stations whenever – and wherever – they want.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
So, is all the advance voting an indication that Albertans are politically engaged and the race is tight?
Not necessarily, says University of Waterloo political scientist Peter Woolstencroft.
He says we just don't have enough data to make a conclusion.
"The real question is 'are there people coming to vote in the advance polls that would not vote on Monday?"' he said.
While high turnout has historically meant a "change election" is on the way, Woolstencroft says this year, that'll largely be dependant on Alberta's youth. If they vote – and vote the way they're projected to – then Monday could mark a new NDP era for the province.
"We don't know how many young people are showing up at the advance polls, but if they are there in some considerable faction, then that's perhaps a tell and a sign that something is afoot."
It's somewhat of a double-edged sword for the NDP: the party wants hesitant conservatives to stay home, but also needs to tap into a part of the electorate it hasn't before.
Woolstencroft believes, either way, the province wins.
"Alberta is becoming a modern system," he said, "the kind we want: competitive parties with clear options, one way or the other. It was notorious for low turnout in sweeps across the province, (but) that's no longer the norm."
SECURE VOTE
Elections Alberta also wants to dispel any myths about the advance vote – or any vote, for that matter – being compromised.
The non-partisan, provincial body uses tabulators during the advance week.
They couldn't be safer says spokesperson Robyn Bell.
"We have so many security measures and safety guards in place to maintain the integrity of the vote," she told CTV News.
That includes never connecting the machines to a network and always storing them in secure areas.
The tabulators are also triple-checked before they're used.
"We do conduct logic and accuracy testing before and after the close of voting," Bell said. "That's done in the presence of candidates and their scrutineers."
Mail-in and Election Day ballots are counted by hand.
The only time the paper ballots will receive the same treatment is if there is a judicial call for a recount.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Trudeau promises $1B in loans for child-care providers to expand care centres
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
Spring allergy season has begun. Where is it worse in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
N.B. man wins $64 million from Lotto 6/49
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.