Edmonton Election 2021: Advance voting opens Monday, here's what you need to know before going to the polls

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Edmontonians can cast their ballot in the civic election as of Monday, the first of 10 advance voting days before the Oct. 18 election.

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Residents will elect a mayor, 12 city councillors as well as nine Edmonton Public School Board trustees and seven trustees for Edmonton Catholic Schools. Edmonton’s ward names and boundaries have changed since the last election and new ward maps can be found on the city’s website.

Here’s what Edmontonians need to know before heading to the polls.

Advance voting options

Advance polls run Monday until Oct. 13. from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., including Thanksgiving Monday. There are 12 polling stations across the city, with one polling station per ward, an increase from the 2017 election where there were only six advance vote stations. Voting locations by ward are:

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There will also be voting opportunities for students at three post-secondary schools from Oct. 5 to Oct. 7, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m:

Oct. 5, University of Alberta
Oct. 6, MacEwan University
Oct. 7, Norquest College

Voter information cards identifying voting locations have been mailed out to residents and voting stations can also be found online. 

What to bring?

Edmontonians will need to show identification that provides their name and residential address, such as an Alberta driver’s licence or a bank statement, as well as fill out a form before voting to register as an elector. Voters don’t need to bring their own pencil as they will be provided and sanitized between each use.

Residents will need to wear masks in voting stations as per the city’s bylaw but proof of vaccination won’t be required.

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Provincial ballot

On top of the three municipal election questions, residents across Alberta will receive a separate ballot for three votes from the province, two referendum questions and a Senate election.

Albertans will be asked the following referendum question on equalization:

Should section 36(2) of the Constitution Act, 1982 – Parliament and the government of Canada’s commitment to the principle of making equalization payments – be removed from the constitution?

A ‘yes’ vote means the province would look to enter discussions with the federal government on a possible amendment to the Constitution in respect to equalization.

Voters will also be asked about their thoughts on Daylight Savings Time and if it should become permanent. Daylight Savings Time is currently observed in Alberta from the second Sunday in March until the first Sunday in November.

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The following question will be on the ballot:

Do you want Alberta to adopt year-round Daylight Saving Time, which is summer hours, eliminating the need to change our clocks twice a year?

If a majority of voters say yes, the Alberta government will take steps to implement the change by the fall of 2022.

Albertans will also be asked to vote in the Senate election and the top three vote getter will then be recommended to the prime minister to consider when filling Senate vacancies. There are 14 candidates registered in the race.

COVID-19 protocols

Edmonton Elections will be ensuring physical distancing by requiring voters to line up outside of polling stations to provide more room. There will also be a wait-time tracking tool for each polling station that will be updated every hour to inform residents how long the wait currently is at their location in an effort to minimize crowds.

Election returning officer Aileen Giesbrecht also said the team will work with anyone who might develop COVID-19 symptoms or need to isolate as of election day the opportunity to vote via special ballot. Special ballot applications are accepted until 4:30 p.m. on election day.

Election day is Oct. 18 with the city’s 212 polling stations open from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m.

A list of all the candidates running in Edmonton’s races can be found here.

duscook@postmedia.com

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