Elections Alberta is embarking on an extensive hiring campaign to recruit more than 60,000 election workers for the province's Oct. 19 referendum, a task the agency describes as a 'logistical nightmare.'
Massive Recruitment Drive Underway
The agency launched its mass recruitment initiative earlier this week, calling it the largest recruitment drive in Alberta's history. Within three days, Elections Alberta received more than 6,500 applications, according to a statement.
While tens of thousands of positions remain unfilled, the agency expressed confidence in meeting its staffing target while ensuring a 'robust and secure' referendum process.
'We are confident Albertans will understand the importance of the referendum and want to serve their province in this historic event,' Elections Alberta said in a statement to Postmedia. 'We manage extremely large temporary field staff workforces for every electoral event and have solid processes for it.'
Recruitment Strategy
Unlike organizations that outsource large-scale hiring, Elections Alberta is handling recruitment internally through its network of returning officers across the province. The agency normally has 48 permanent staff for day-to-day operations.
The recruitment campaign includes media outreach, social media (both paid and organic), an Indeed campaign, radio placements, and targeted advertising in areas with lower uptake. Recruitment materials are also being distributed to schools, municipalities, and community organizations.
Returning officers are conducting local outreach in their electoral divisions, with special attention to smaller populations to ensure sufficient candidates.
Hiring Process
Applications are routed to the returning officer responsible for the applicant's electoral division based on their residential address. Returning office staff review applications and contact qualified candidates by phone or email to discuss available positions and qualifications.
Successful applicants receive details about their assignments and training by email. All election workers must complete online and classroom training before voting day and pass a criminal record check.
Why So Many Workers?
The unprecedented staffing requirement, which Elections Alberta has called a 'colossal undertaking,' is largely tied to the scale of the referendum. Albertans will vote on 10 referendum questions, each printed on separate ballots, creating a ballot-counting operation unlike any previous provincial vote.
