Alberta votes on ten referendum questions today after nearly 1.4 million ballots were cast in advance
Alberta votes today, 19 October, on ten referendum questions. Global News reported Elections Alberta counted 1,356,873 advance and special ballots from 13 to 17 October, against 809,988 at the same point in the 2023 provincial election. CTV News reported on 16 October that the total had passed one million, about one third of eligible voters. CP24 reported that more than 1,400 polling stations are open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Global News reported that questions one to nine are yes-or-no questions and that Premier Danielle Smith set a winning threshold only for the separation question, with no result binding under the government's orders. An Ipsos poll of 801 Albertans for Global News found about seven in 10 plan to vote to remain in Canada.
The turnout is far above the 2023 election's at the same point, which shows how mobilized voters are on a ballot with ten questions. Non-binding results still matter because they set the political mandate Alberta's government and Ottawa will argue over afterward.
If you live in Alberta and have not voted, polls close at 8 p.m. Outside Alberta, results arriving in the early hours of Tuesday may shape the national debate on immigration and the constitution this week.
Supporters of the vote, including the Alberta government, argue it lets residents speak directly on immigration and constitutional questions. Global News commentary argued that Smith is closer to Canadians than Prime Minister Carney on immigration.
Critics note that the separation question is the least popular, with only 23 per cent backing a binding separation referendum in the Ipsos poll. They also point out that none of the results are binding and that a threshold exists for only one question.
Confirmed: the date, the ten questions, record advance turnout and a poll showing about seven in 10 favouring remaining. Not confirmed: the outcomes of questions one to nine or what the government will do with non-binding results. Watch tonight for the order in which results arrive and the margin on question ten.
DailyDrop Canada edition No. 15 · Morning · MON., OCT. 19, 2026