Unofficial results as of 5:10 a.m. Oct. 20. Graphic: Calgary Citizen, with data from Elections Alberta.
So far Albertans are voting to remain a province of Canada. With about three-quarters of voting areas counted, Option 1, remain a province, had 75.8 per cent of the vote on Question 10, according to unofficial results from Elections Alberta as of 5:10 a.m. Tuesday. Option 2, starting the legal process toward a separation referendum, had 24.2 per cent. That's with 4,179 of 5,586 voting areas and locations reporting.
Albertans voted Monday, Oct. 19, on 10 questions. One asked whether Alberta should stay in Canada or begin the legal process toward a separation referendum. Five were on immigration and provincial programs, and four were on changes to the Canadian Constitution. The exact wording of every question is in our voter guide.
These are unofficial results. Elections Alberta says the official results will be announced Oct. 29 at 10 a.m.
Question 10: Alberta's place in Canada
The question asked whether Alberta should remain a province of Canada, or whether the provincial government should start the legal process under the Constitution to hold a binding referendum on separating from Canada.
Option 1, remain a province of Canada: 75.8 per cent (1,329,176 votes)
Option 2, start the legal process toward a separation referendum: 24.2 per cent (424,110 votes)
Questions 1 to 5: immigration and provincial programs
Questions 1 to 9 were counted after Question 10 at each voting location, so fewer of those votes are in. As of 5:10 a.m., Yes was ahead on all five.
Question 1, more provincial control over immigration: Yes 58.6 per cent, No 41.4 per cent
Question 2, provincially funded programs only for citizens, permanent residents and people with Alberta-approved immigration status: Yes 57.2, No 42.8
Question 3, a 12-month residency rule before people with non-permanent status qualify for social support programs: Yes 58.4, No 41.6
Question 4, fees for people with non-permanent status to use health care and education: Yes 57.1, No 42.9
Question 5, proof of citizenship to vote in provincial elections: Yes 63.1, No 36.9
Questions 6 to 9: the Constitution
These four questions asked whether Alberta should work with other willing provinces to amend the Constitution. As of 5:10 a.m., Yes led on three of the four and No led on Question 8. Question 6 was the closest.
Question 6, provinces choose the judges for King's Bench and Appeal courts: Yes 50.9, No 49.1
Question 7, abolish the Senate: Yes 52.5, No 47.5
Question 8, provinces can opt out of federal programs in provincial areas and keep the funding: Yes 48.3, No 51.7
Question 9, provincial laws take priority over conflicting federal laws in provincial or shared areas: Yes 51.5, No 48.5
How Calgary voted
Calgary voted even more strongly to stay. Across the city's 26 ridings, Option 1 had 83.0 per cent (458,550 votes) to 17.0 per cent (93,724 votes) for Option 2, with 1,145 of 1,550 voting areas and locations reporting as of 5:10 a.m. Option 1 led in all 26 ridings. Its smallest share so far was 76.8 per cent, in Calgary-South East.
Turnout
Elections Alberta hadn't posted overall turnout as of 5:10 a.m. Before Election Day, 1,356,873 of Alberta's 3,148,343 eligible voters, or 43.1 per cent, had already voted in advance or by mail-in special ballot, according to Elections Alberta. In the 2023 provincial election, 27.5 per cent voted early, though Elections Alberta notes the 2023 special-ballot numbers aren't directly comparable.
What people are saying
Premier Danielle Smith wrote on X that the initial results “show widespread support for remaining in Canada.” She said she will address Albertans live at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday to discuss the results and where the province goes from here.
Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi wrote: “We saved Canada. Now, we save Alberta.”
Prime Minister Mark Carney posted a statement saying, “Above all, Albertans chose Canada.”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford wrote that Albertans “have overwhelmingly chosen a stronger, more prosperous future for their province by remaining in Canada,” and said it’s now up to the rest of the country to deliver new pipelines and resource projects.
What happens next
We wait… still. Official results are to be announced Oct. 29 at 10 a.m., and every voting location has to report its numbers within 48 hours of the last stations closing, which was just past 10 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19.
