Lorne Gunter: Elections Alberta mistakes give fuel to separatists

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeOpinionColumnists Lorne Gunter: Elections Alberta mistakes give fuel to separatists If Elections Alberta reaches voting day thousands of workers short, the lineups at polling stations could stretch to hours. Author of the article: By Lorne Gunter Published Sep 08, 2026 Last updated 11 hours ago 3 minute read Join the conversation A technical briefing provided on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, by Elections Alberta for the media on preparations, the voting process and the count for the Oct. 19 referendum in Alberta. PHOTO BY SHAUGHN BUTTS /Postmedia Article content I spoke too soon. Article content On Friday, I reassured readers that Elections Alberta was bound to do a better job of referendum balloting than other provincial departments have done on the fuel tax rebate, the dual driver’s licence/health card rollout and migration of disability payments from AISH (Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped) to ADAP (the Alberta Disability Assistance Program). Article content Article content Article content Oh boy, was that ever premature. Article content Headline News Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Article content So far the mailout of referendum ballots has been one mistake after another. Article content Some mailouts were missing ballots for one or more of the 10 questions Albertans are being asked to vote on Oct. 19. Article content Imagine how much extra work has been created in answering calls from voters with missing ballots, then mailing out replacements in time for voters to complete and return them. Article content Expect complaints from voters who are sent the wrong replacements or whose replacements don’t show up with enough time to return them to Elections Alberta to be counted. Article content I can already hear the separatists, if they lose, claiming that thousands of federalist voters voted twice against the separatism question because, it will be claimed, they received and cast two ballots on that topic. Article content And what about verification? How will Elections Alberta workers know callers who claim they are missing ballots aren’t just trying to get an extra one or two? Article content So far, the provincial election agency has received nearly…