Elections Alberta is embarking on its largest-ever recruitment drive to hire over 60,000 workers for the upcoming referendum, aiming to complete the unofficial ballot count within 48 hours after the Oct. 19 event. The agency emphasized the massive undertaking of the referendum and the need for Albertans to unite in delivering it, as stated by Gordon McClure, Alberta’s chief electoral officer.
For the October referendum, Elections Alberta will print 45 million ballots featuring 10 questions. One of these questions will address whether Alberta should remain a province of Canada or initiate the legal process for a binding separation referendum. Jennifer Maskoske, director of election operations, explained the use of 10 individual ballots on color-coded paper and boxes to streamline the hand-counting process.
This recruitment drive by Elections Alberta is touted as one of Canada’s largest referendum staffing efforts. The agency has not disclosed the hiring costs yet. The shift to hand-counted votes under new legislation necessitates more staff and time, according to Lorne Gibson, a former election commissioner. He highlighted the challenges of staffing elections and the economic advantages of holding referendums concurrently with general elections.
Interested Alberta residents aged 16 and above can apply for various election roles, with some positions requiring applicants to be 18 or older. Elections Alberta will notify successful applicants starting mid-July, offering paid positions with a mix of online and in-person training in early October. The agency encourages rural Albertans to apply to support the referendum administration and vote counting statewide.
All election officers are required to uphold a non-partisan mandate by signing an oath, with advance voting scheduled from Oct. 13 to 17 and the referendum day on Oct. 19. The agency urges Albertans to participate in this historic vote and be part of the democratic process firsthand.