As Albertans increasingly turn to mail-in voting for the upcoming referendum, Elections Alberta is grappling with a growing problem: some residents are opening their ballot packages only to find critical pages missing.
Edmonton couple Lorrie and John Jegen experienced the frustration firsthand when their referendum materials arrived on September 1st. While Lorrie's envelope contained the complete set of ten ballot questions, John's package was conspicuously incomplete—containing just a single ballot slip.
"All I got was one ballot," John Jegen explained, holding up the lone slip of paper. "Can't do much with that."
The Jegens had specifically chosen to vote by mail to sidestep the lengthy lineups that plagued last year's municipal election, when some voters endured waits of three to four hours at polling stations. For the couple, the mail-in option felt essential given accessibility concerns.
"The thought of standing in line for three or four hours because there's no automatic tabulated voting machines—it's tough for us," Jegen said. "My wife certainly won't be able to do it, and I would have a hard time too."
After discovering the missing pages, Jegen reached out to Elections Alberta but was unable to reach a live representative. Days later, he's still waiting for confirmation that his complete ballot will arrive before the referendum deadline.
"I'm hoping they come back and say, 'Yeah, here's your booklet' or 'Come and get it' or 'We'll send it to you.' But we'll have to wait and see. I am one of the people who wants to stay in Canada and so is my wife, so it's very important to us to make sure that our voices are heard."
Elections Alberta Acknowledges the Issue
Elections Alberta confirmed Thursday that incomplete packages are reaching voters, though the agency emphasized the problem remains relatively contained. Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Dallas Stoesz said a "couple handfuls" of residents have reported missing materials—some lacking individual referendum questions, while others received no ballot package at all.
"Those folks should get in touch with us," Stoesz stated. "We'll make sure to get them a proper set of ballots."
According to Elections Alberta, the special ballots are designed much like a notepad, with all referendum questions glued together at the top and backed with cardboard. The construction explains how individual pages can separate during the mailing process.
What Voters Should Do
If you receive an incomplete mail-in ballot package, Elections Alberta urges you to contact the agency immediately so staff can send replacement materials. With advance voting demand climbing rapidly, officials stressed the importance of reporting issues as soon as they're discovered to ensure votes count.
For those concerned about their voting options or eligibility to vote by mail, Albertans can find additional information through Elections Alberta's official channels and voter resources.
This story was originally reported by Global Calgary and adapted for WestNet News.