Skip to Content | Contact Us

City Government

Voting FAQ

Do I have to be on the voter's list to vote? I have not been enumerated yet. Can I vote?
Where or how do I register to vote? How do I pick up a Form 8 - Voting Register?
Am I eligible to vote?
Do I need ID to vote?
I live out of town but I work or own a business in the city. Can I vote?
I will be away from Edmonton on Election Day. Can I still vote?
How much time must an employer allow for employees to vote?
When will I know who the official candidates for the election are?
How do I vote?
How many candidates can I vote for?
How do we mark the ballot in the Edmonton Election?
Can I complete only a portion of the ballot?
Why are no political parties listed on the ballot?
When should we begin to see results on election night, and when should they be complete?
Where will we be able to see official results?

1. Do I have to be on the voter's list to vote? I have not been enumerated yet. Can I vote?

There is no voter's list in Edmonton for municipal and School Board elections. Voters must provide identification at the voting station, such as an Alberta driver's license or a Canadian passport. A variety of forms of identification are acceptable. A driver's license is the easiest choice, but there are other options.

In addition, all voters are required to sign a statement (Form 8 - Voting Register) when they attend the voting station to confirm they meet the qualifications required to vote:

at least 18 years of age,
Canadian citizen,
resident of Alberta 6 consecutive months immediately preceding election day,
resident of a voting subdivision in the city of Edmonton on election day, and
have not voted previously in this election.

All voters must sign the voting register stating that they meet these qualifications and provide satisfactory identification before they will be given a ballot.

2. Where or how do I register to vote? How do I pick up a Form 8 - Voting Register?

All voters complete the Form 8 - Voting Register at their corresponding voting station. Voters do not need to (and cannot) register in advance.

3. Am I eligible to vote?

You are eligible to vote in the Edmonton election if you are:

at least 18 years of age,
Canadian citizen,
resident of Alberta 6 consecutive months immediately preceding election day,
resident of a voting subdivision in the city of Edmonton on election day, and
have not voted previously in this election.

4. Do I need ID to vote?

Voters must provide identification at the voting station, such as an Alberta Driver's Licence or a Canadian passport. A variety of forms of identification are acceptable. A driver's licence is the easiest choice, but there are .

5. I live out of town but I work or own a business in the city. Can I vote?

Only permanent residents of the city of Edmonton can vote in the Edmonton Election.

A residence is the place where you live and sleep, and the place that you intend to return to after an absence; not where you work. If you live, sleep and return to two places, you may vote at only one location. You may choose the location where you would like to vote.

6. I will be away from Edmonton on Election Day. Can I still vote?

For voter convenience, ward-based Advance Voting is available to all eligible voters. Special Ballots are available for those who cannot get to a voting station on Election Day. Continuous Advance Voting takes place at the City Hall for voters in all wards.

7. How much time must an employer allow for employees to vote?

According to section 58 of the Local Authorities Election Act, employees are allowed three consecutive hours in which to vote.

If the hours of employment do not allow for three consecutive hours, the employer shall allow the employee any additional time that is necessary to provide the employee with three consecutive hours. However, this extra time is at the convenience of the employer.

8. When will I know who the official candidates for the election are?

Under the Local Authorities Election Act and the Election Bylaw (13674), candidates can only submit their nomination forms and deposit on nomination day between the hours of 9 a. m. and 12 noon. It is only after this time that candidates can be confirmed.

9. How do I vote?

The following is a summary of the key events when you go to vote:

At 9 a.m. the voting station will open to voters. The station will remain open continuously until 8 p.m.
Provide identification to the Deputy Returning Officer to ensure ID meets requirements.
To receive a ballot from the Deputy Returning Officer, you must show ID and sign the prescribed Form 8 - Voting Register which states that you meet the conditions of eligibility (see above for a list of conditions).
Signing Form 8 – Voting Register is a requirement under the Local Authorities Election Act. Any person who does not comply with the requirement, or who does not provided acceptable ID, will not be allowed to vote.
Take the ballot to the voting booth, mark it, and bring the ballot to the Tabulator Clerk for insertion into the voting machine and ballot box.
At 8 p. m. the Presiding Deputy will announce that the voting station is closed. When all voters inside the voting station or in line at 8 p. m. have completed the above process and left, a results tape will be printed from the vote tabulator.

10. How many candidates can I vote for?

You can vote for one candidate for Mayor, one candidate for Councillor, and one for either a Public School Board Trustee or a Catholic School Board Trustee. A maximum of three votes can be cast on a valid ballot.

11. How do we mark the ballot in the Edmonton Election?

To mark the ballot fill in the oval that corresponds to the candidate that you want to vote for.

12. Can I complete only a portion of the ballot?

Yes. The voting tabulators can accept ballots that are under voted. Under voted ballots are those ballots that have less votes than indicated for that election.

13. Why are no political parties listed on the ballot?

In municipal elections, candidates do not represent political parties.

14. When should we begin to see results on election night, and when should they be complete?

Unofficial results are posted on the City of Edmonton website at www.edmonton.ca/election when they become available after 8pm on election night.

15. Where will we be able to see official results?

Official results can only be viewed at Office of the City Clerk, 3rd Floor, City Hall, at the Information Desk on the Main Floor of City Hall, and on our website at www.edmonton.ca/election.

Copyright © 2011, City of Edmonton.