Alberta referendum puts 10 questions before voters today

The Alberta referendum is taking place Monday, October 19, with voters deciding on 10 questions covering immigration, provincial powers, constitutional reform and whether the province should begin the legal process toward a future separation referendum.

Polling places are open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time on Monday.

Election Day voting must take place at an elector’s assigned voting location in their Alberta electoral division.

What is on the Alberta referendum ballot

The ballot consists of 10 separate, colour-coded questions, as outlined in Elections Alberta’s referendum information.

Questions 1 through 9 require a yes-or-no answer, while Question 10 asks voters to choose between two options.

Elections Alberta says the results of all 10 questions are non-binding.

The questions were established through three Orders in Council approved in March and May 2026.

Question	Subject	Response
1	Greater provincial control over immigration, lower immigration levels and priority for economic migration	Yes or no
2	Eligibility for provincially funded programs based on citizenship, permanent residence or Alberta-approved immigration status	Yes or no
3	A proposed 12-month Alberta residence period before some non-permanent residents could qualify for social supports	Yes or no
4	Possible fees or premiums for non-permanent residents using provincial health-care and education systems	Yes or no
5	Proof of Canadian citizenship to vote in Alberta provincial elections	Yes or no
6	Provincial selection of judges for Alberta’s King’s Bench and Court of Appeal	Yes or no
7	Abolishing the appointed federal Senate	Yes or no
8	Allowing provinces to opt out of federal programs in areas such as health care and education while retaining associated funding	Yes or no
9	Giving provincial laws priority over conflicting federal laws in provincial or shared areas of jurisdiction	Yes or no
10	Remaining a province of Canada or beginning the constitutional process required for a future binding separation referendum	Choose one option

What Question 10 means

Question 10 does not ask Albertans to decide immediate separation from Canada.

Instead, voters are choosing between remaining a province of Canada or directing the Alberta government to commence the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a future binding provincial referendum on separation.

A result favouring the second option would therefore begin a constitutional and political process rather than create an independent Alberta immediately.

Because the question is non-binding, the vote itself would not change Alberta’s constitutional status.

Who can vote and what to bring

Eligible voters must be Canadian citizens, at least 18 years old on October 19, 2026, and ordinarily resident in Alberta.

Voters must prove their identity and current physical address before receiving ballots.

Elections Alberta accepts more than 50 combinations of identification, including government-issued photo identification showing the voter’s name, current physical address and photograph.

Voters may also use two pieces of identification showing their full name, with at least one showing their current physical address.

A Where to Vote card can help election officials identify the correct voting area, but it cannot be used as identification.

People who are eligible but are not registered can register at their assigned Election Day voting place.

Where and when to vote

Voters can check their assigned location through Elections Alberta’s Where to Vote tool or by contacting the Elections Alberta service centre.

Unlike advance voting, Election Day voters must attend the assigned location in their electoral division.

Anyone already in line when the voting location closes must be allowed to vote.

Employers must provide eligible employees with three consecutive non-work hours to vote during advance voting or on Election Day.

If an employee’s schedule does not already provide that window, the employer must provide additional paid time for voting.

When Alberta referendum results will be released

Ballots will be counted by hand, with Question 10 counted first, followed by Questions 1 through 9.

Unofficial results will be posted as counts are completed and confirmed by returning offices.

Elections Alberta says the unofficial count must be completed within 48 hours after voting locations close because the referendum has more than seven questions.

Advance ballots and special ballots will be counted beginning at 5 p.m. on October 19.

The official announcement of the results is scheduled for Thursday, October 29, 2026, at 10 a.m.

The vote is being held amid an intense debate over Alberta’s relationship with Ottawa, immigration policy, provincial autonomy and the possibility of a future independence campaign.

Regardless of the outcome, the referendum questions are advisory and any major legal or constitutional change would require further government action, negotiations or votes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fact-Checked: Key dates, ballot questions, eligibility rules, voting procedures and the results timetable were checked against Elections Alberta information and official referendum materials.

Disclaimer: The referendum questions are non-binding, and this article explains the ballot and voting process without taking a position on any option.