At a polling station in Edmonton’s Delton neighbourhood, several voters said they had been waiting for about 30 minutes but hadn’t moved any closer to casting their ballots. Global News
Many Albertans faced long waits at polling stations on Monday as municipal elections took place across the province. In Calgary and Edmonton, some voters said they waited up to two hours to cast their ballots. Others grew so frustrated they left without voting at all.
In Edmonton, city officials acknowledged delays caused by staff shortages and the need to process new voter identification requirements. “We did have some election workers who were hired and trained, but unfortunately, their circumstances changed and they were not able to join us today,” the city said in a statement Monday evening.
By 7:30 p.m., extra workers were sent to several polling stations to help manage the backlog.
Frustration Across Alberta
In both major cities, long lineups stretched outside schools and community centres. Many voters described the experience as slow and disorganized.
“I’m surprised by how long it’s taking,” said Michael Cooper, who waited at a Calgary polling station.
Chris Gerien, who voted at Colonel Walker School in Inglewood, said the process felt unnecessary. “I waited two hours in line,” he said. “They had to fill out a form for every voter, even though that information was already on the list.”
At St. Alphonsus School in northeast Calgary, the line wrapped around the building, and several people gave up without voting.
Elections Calgary later reported that 46 per cent of polling stations had wait times under 10 minutes, but many others saw much longer delays.
New Rules Slow the Process
Both cities blamed the new provincial voting rules under Bill 20, which require election staff to verify each voter’s eligibility through a “permanent electors register.” Every voter must also complete a Statement of Eligibility form, confirming they meet the legal requirements to vote.
Elections Edmonton asked residents for patience, saying these changes have slowed down the process. “All electors are required to complete the eligibility form,” officials said.
Voters not listed in the register can still vote, but they must present government-issued ID and proof of address, such as a lease or bank statement. Those voting in school board elections must fill out additional forms to confirm eligibility.
Each verification takes an estimated three to five minutes per person, which adds up quickly when lineups stretch for blocks.
Concerns About Voter Turnout
Some voters and candidates worried that the delays could discourage participation. “When people have busy schedules, seeing long lines might make them walk away,” said Edmonton mayoral candidate Rahim Jaffer.
Voter Greg Plouffe agreed, saying such waits could “slant the results” if people give up before voting.
Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams placed responsibility on local governments. “Municipalities have known about the new election rules since spring 2024,” he said. “If they didn’t plan properly, they must explain why these long waits happened.”
Counting Delays Expected
The new law also bans electronic vote tabulators, meaning all ballots must be counted by hand. Officials expect this will further delay results, possibly by several days.
Despite the challenges, city officials encouraged residents still in line before the 8 p.m. deadline to stay and cast their vote.
