Alberta votes on process for future separation referendum

Albertans voted Monday, October 19, on whether their government should begin the legal process for a future binding referendum on separation from Canada. The ballot question does not ask voters to make Alberta independent, and a vote in favour would not itself change the province’s status within Canada. No referendum result was available in the reports published that day. The separation measure, Question 10, asks whether Alberta should remain a province of Canada or whether the provincial government should commence the constitutional process required to hold a binding referendum on separation. It is being counted first, ahead of nine other questions addressing immigration and constitutional matters. Elections Alberta said ballots would be counted by hand. After Question 10, officials will count Questions 1 through 9 in numerical order. The agency said unofficial results are to be published within 48 hours after all voting locations close. A polling station in Edmonton was reported to be staying open until 10 p.m., two hours later than scheduled, delaying the province-wide count and release of results. Premier Danielle Smith called the referendum after pressure from separatists...