1 in 5 Alberta referendum special ballot packages were ‘rejected’

Did you check to see if your special ballot vote counted in the Alberta referendum? Elections Alberta sent out more than 652,000 special ballot packages, and only 519,000 of those made it back in time. With official results in, CBC crunched some numbers. It turns out Elections Alberta rejected one in five special ballot packages, either because they weren't handed in on time, didn't have the proper paperwork attached, or weren't returned at all. But Elections Alberta still counted those rejected ballots in its official voter turnout number. It reported voter turnout on separation was 70%, a record for Alberta. But if you only count valid votes, that turnout drops to 67%. Not a record. So what does all this mean? Let's break it down. Voter turnout lumps together valid, declined, and rejected ballots. Here's how Elections Alberta defines each of those terms. Valid ballots are pretty straightforward, marked ballots that got counted. For special ballots, all the paperwork was in order. For advanced and in-person, a clear X marks the spot and it went in a ballot box. Question 10 on separation added up to about two million out of about three million eligible voters. Declined ballots are returned to the voting officer by the elector unmarked, so left blank by a voter, intentionally or not, but given back to the voting officer and not put in a ballot box. Rejected ballots are ones that had issues. Like a blank ballot in a ballot box or, for example, with special ballots that arrived on time but without all the proper paperwork. But remember this from Elections Alberta, check on the status of your special ballot. And if it isn't cast, go vote in person on October 19th. We don't know how many voters ended up getting that message and going to vote in person. Just that nearly 133,000 special ballot packages were rejected. But with so many mail-in ballots this time around that percentage of rejected ballots number is pretty eye-popping. In the 2023 election there were only 0.7% rejected special ballots. Elections Alberta says more details are coming. Our data team will review the declarations and information of the people who voted and will reconcile this information with the turnout figures. The referendum report produced in the months following the referendum will detail the number of rejected special ballots, including the number rejected during the count and the number rejected due to returning after the deadline or not being returned.