Requirements
Alberta residents who are a Canadian citizen and at least 18 years old may vote in the 2019 general election.
Voters must be registered to vote before they can submit their ballot. Albertans can register or check their registration online.
Voters who have moved since 2015 must be registered on the correct riding voter list. That change can be made online at the same link above.
Voters who have not registered beforehand are still eligible to vote on election day as long as they bring proper identification.
How to vote
The election will be held on April 16.
On the day of the election, voters must vote in the polling subdivision in which they live. The boundaries have changed since 2015; find the updated map here.
Voters must bring government-issued ID containing their picture, current address and name—or two pieces of identification that have the voter’s name, one of which includes their current address. Elections Alberta has a full list of the kinds of identification that are accepted.
Polls are open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on April 16.
The locations of polling stations have not been announced. CTV News will update this as the information is released.
Voting while at work on April 16
Section 132 of the Election Act mandates all voters have three consecutive hours to vote. This means some workers could be eligible for time off work to cast their vote if their work schedule does not provide a three-hour window while polls are open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
For example, employees who work 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. have three hours (until 8 p.m.) to vote, and are therefore not eligible for time away from work.
However, employees who work 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. could receive two hours in the morning (for a three-hour period from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.) or one hour in the evening (for a period from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.) from their employer to vote.
While employers cannot deduct pay or penalize workers for going to vote, the employer gets to make the choice of which window of time workers take.
Unable to vote on April 16?
There are other ways to vote if you are unable to participate on the day of the election.
Advance polls are open Tuesday, April 9 to Saturday, April 13 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
This year, voters can use advance polls in any riding—but only at advance polls. On the day of the election, votes must be cast in the elector’s riding.
If you are an Albertan who cannot vote in either the advance polls or on Election Day
- due to a physical disability or an absence from your riding
- because you are an election worker, candidate, imprisoned or live in a remote area
you may apply for a special ballot. It must be returned before the close of polls on April 16 in order for it to be counted.
New Canadians
New Canadians must register to vote, and can do so online.
Polling stations offer print instructions in 13 languages: Arabic, Chinese, Cree, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Polish, Punjabi, Spanish, Tagalog, Ukrainian and Vietnamese.
Station staff are also hired locally so that there are language alternatives.
If a voter’s language is not listed above, they may bring along a person to translate.
Who to vote for
Alberta has 13 registered political parties, all of whom will appear on the ballot.
However, some are not providing any candidates, such as the Wildrose and Progressive Conservative Parties, which merged as the United Conservative Party in 2018.
The full list, in alphabetical order, consists of:
- Alberta Advantage Party
- Alberta Independence Party
- Alberta Liberal Party
- Alberta New Democratic Party
- Alberta Party
- Communist Party - Alberta
- Freedom Conservative Party of Alberta
- Green Party of Alberta
- Pro-Life Alberta Political Association
- Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta
- Reform Party of Alberta
- United Conservative Party
- Wildrose Party
CTV News has an online list of candidates for each constituency. You can learn more about party platforms and news through our coverage of the election campaign.
Working in the election
There are a number of jobs Albertans can be hired as during the election: poll clerks, information officers, enumerators.
Those interested can apply and find out more about the hiring policy online.
Applicants cannot be a politician, judge, school board trustee or recent convict.
Other questions?
Voter Information Centres are open until 8 p.m. on weekdays, 4 p.m. on weekends, and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on April 16. They can be reached at 1-877-422-8683.
