Global News Edmonton has reported:

Alberta’s former chief electoral officer says he may be unable to vote in the province’s upcoming separation referendum because he could not return his special ballot by mail. Glen Resler says Elections Alberta turned him away when he tried to deliver it in person to the agency’s Edmonton office last week.

Resler had applied to vote by special ballot but could not get it back in the mail during the period when Canada Post could guarantee delivery before the 5 p.m. deadline on Friday, Oct. 16. He was told provincial law requires special ballots to be returned by mail. Elections Alberta encouraged him to vote at advance polls this week, but he said that was not possible because he was leaving town.

The former election official says provincial law allows the chief electoral officer to permit in-person delivery of special ballots, but his successor is refusing to use that authority. Resler says the decision disenfranchises voters like him.

Elections Alberta says it can 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 living in remote areas.

The rule was introduced by the province last year. Elections Alberta agrees with its former leader that the requirement creates a barrier for voters and says it hopes the government will consider changes in the future.