Alberta’s former election chief says mail-in ballot rules threaten referendum vote

Glen Resler says he could not return his special ballot by mail and was refused when he tried to deliver it in person. Elections Alberta says the rules create a barrier and hopes the province considers changes.

CTV News Edmonton has reported:

Alberta’s former chief electoral officer says he has effectively lost his right to vote in the province’s upcoming separation referendum after he was unable to return his special ballot under current delivery rules. Glen Resler says he applied to vote by special ballot but could not get it back in the mail last week, when Canada Post could still guarantee delivery before tomorrow’s 5 p.m. deadline.

Resler tried to bring the ballot to Elections Alberta’s office in Edmonton, but staff turned him away, saying provincial law allows special ballots to be returned only by mail. He was encouraged to vote at advance polls this week, but says that was not an option because he was leaving town.

Resler says the law includes a clause that lets the chief electoral officer permit ballots to be delivered in person, but he says his successor is refusing to use that authority. He argues the decision disenfranchises voters in situations like his.

Elections Alberta says it may accept special ballots in person or by courier only when voters cannot reasonably access mail services. The agency understands that exception to apply to people in remote areas. It says the rule was introduced by the province last year and agrees with Resler that it creates a barrier for voters.

The agency says it hopes the government will consider changes in the future. Resler is Alberta’s former top election official, and the dispute concerns the return of special ballots for the upcoming referendum. The Canadian Press report was written by Jack Farrell.