Elections Alberta has initiated a massive recruitment drive to hire 60,000 temporary employees for the upcoming fall referendum on October 19. This marks the largest electoral worker recruitment campaign in the province's history.
Massive Workforce Needed for 10 Ballot Questions
Chief Electoral Officer Gordon McClure described the undertaking as a colossal effort requiring Albertans to collaborate effectively. The agency aims to deliver unofficial results within 48 hours of polls closing, necessitating a workforce capable of handling the complexity of 10 separate ballot questions.
In a press release issued Monday, McClure emphasized the scale of the operation: 'This referendum will be a colossal undertaking and requires Albertans to work together to deliver the upcoming referendum.'
Record-Breaking Ballot Production
Elections Alberta plans to print approximately 45 million ballots, a figure that surpasses both the 1.8 million ballots cast in the 2023 provincial general election and the 19.8 million ballots cast in the 2025 federal election. The agency anticipates between 34 and 38 million ballots will be used, requiring 60,000 to 90,000 election officers to administer and count them for over three million eligible electors.
Historical Context and Costs
For comparison, the 1995 Quebec referendum employed 57,000 electoral workers to assist 4.8 million voters. In Alberta's 2023 provincial election, the agency hired 13,095 workers at a total cost of approximately $37 million. Elections Alberta normally operates with just 48 permanent staff for day-to-day functions.
Eligibility and Application Process
Applications are open to Albertans aged 16 or older, though some positions require applicants to be at least 18. All candidates must pass a criminal history check and refrain from political activities while employed. Successful applicants will begin hearing back in mid-July.
Available roles include site supervisors, information officers, voting officers, ballot box clerks, count officers, and count supervisors. Each ballot question will be printed on a separate ballot, and electors are not required to vote on every question; they may refuse any or all ballots at the voting station.
Referendum Questions and Threshold
The referendum includes 10 questions, with a two-pronged question on separation. In late May, Premier Danielle Smith announced the tenth question, which is not a simple yes or no. Elections Alberta confirmed it will be split into two options: Option A: Alberta should remain a province in Canada, and an alternative option for those who wish to pursue separation. The threshold for a successful referendum is more than 50 percent of the vote.
