Edmonton Councillor Advocates for Electronic Vote Tabulator Reinstatement Following Critical Election Report
A prominent Edmonton city councillor is calling for the restoration of electronic vote tabulation machines after a comprehensive review of the 2025 municipal election revealed significant challenges stemming from their elimination. The interim report, which examined election procedures and outcomes, concluded that the removal of these tabulators created substantial obstacles in certifying election results and maintaining electoral integrity.
Audit Committee Chair Highlights Critical Flaws in Current System
Ward Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi Councillor Jon Morgan, who chairs the city's audit committee, expressed strong support for returning to the previous vote-counting methodology. "I would definitely like to see a return to our vote tabulators," Morgan stated emphatically. "That would be a big help for our election team and for the safety and security of our elections."
The councillor elaborated on the specific problems identified during the audit process, noting that "the auditor couldn't establish the results of the election and part of that was because the tabulator boxes were no longer in use." This fundamental issue with election certification represents a serious concern for municipal governance and public trust in electoral outcomes.
Manual Counting Creates Significant Room for Error
Morgan highlighted the practical difficulties created by the shift away from electronic tabulation, explaining that election officials "had to hand-count thousands of thousands of ballots — there was definitely room for error." This labor-intensive process not only increased the potential for mistakes but also placed considerable strain on election workers who lacked the technological support previously available.
The removal of vote tabulation machines was part of broader changes imposed on municipalities by the provincial government in 2024, representing approximately $4.8 million in mandated adjustments to election procedures. These changes have had tangible consequences for election administration across Alberta municipalities.
Auditor Confirms Election Certification Challenges
City Auditor Janine Mryglod presented findings to the committee confirming that it was effectively impossible to audit the election properly under the new rules. These conclusions align with observations documented in the 2025 Municipal Elections Advisory report, which identified systemic issues with election administration following the procedural changes.
Elections Edmonton returning officer Aileen Geisbrecht provided additional context about the planning and execution challenges, noting that "we work on a four-year cycle and we started planning the 2025 election in 2023." Despite this extensive preparation period, significant operational difficulties emerged during the election process.
Multiple Factors Complicated Election Administration
The election faced additional complications beyond the tabulator removal, including a postal strike that prevented the mailing of voter information cards to residents. This disruption created further barriers to voter participation and information dissemination during the critical election period.
Geisbrecht acknowledged receiving substantial feedback from both election workers and voters about procedural shortcomings. "Based on the feedback of over 8,000 election workers as well as voters, wait times at voting stations were too long," she reported. "There were gaps in training for some election workers."
The returning officer also noted that "we received significant feedback that the systems we were using for the registration of new voters were cumbersome," indicating broader systemic issues beyond just vote counting procedures.
Voter Turnout and Experience Statistics Reveal Mixed Results
Despite these administrative challenges, 206,799 Edmonton residents cast ballots in the 2025 municipal election. While this represents a decline from the 236,488 voters who participated in the 2021 election conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, it exceeds the 194,826 turnout recorded in 2017. Geisbrecht admitted that "the turn-out was lower than she had expected" given the city's growing population and increased civic engagement efforts.
A comprehensive city survey provided insights into voter experiences during the election:
- 83% of voters reported casting their ballot within one hour
- 60% completed the voting process within thirty minutes
- 27% finished voting within just ten minutes
- 16% of voters required over one hour to vote
- 2% reported taking more than two hours to complete the voting process
These timing concerns corresponded with observations from election workers, with 15% reporting significant line-ups at polling stations throughout election day.
Audit Observations Reveal Mostly Smooth Operations with Some Concerns
During the election, auditors conducted observations at 134 of the city's 222 polling stations, including visits during opening hours, closing procedures, and regular voting periods. The audit revealed that 125 of the observed polling stations operated without significant issues, demonstrating that many locations managed the procedural changes effectively.
However, nine polling stations exhibited various operational concerns that warrant attention in future election planning. These issues, combined with the broader challenges identified in the report, have prompted calls for substantive changes to Edmonton's election administration framework as the city prepares for future municipal votes.
