Albertans vote in 10-question referendum

Albertans are voting Monday, October 19, in a 10-question referendum on provincial autonomy, constitutional reform and immigration-related policies, with the final outcome still unknown as polling stations open across the province. Elections Alberta reported that early voting had already produced 1,356,873 ballots by Sunday: 837,791 cast at advance polls and 519,082 mail-in or special ballots received and processed. The agency said that total represented 43 per cent turnout from early voting alone. Those figures were reported by the agency administering the referendum. Each question appears on a separate ballot. Voters may leave any question unanswered without invalidating their votes on the others. The referendum includes a question about Alberta’s future in Canada, alongside questions concerning constitutional changes and immigration policy. Under government regulations, Elections Alberta has 48 hours to provide unofficial results for a referendum with seven or more questions. The agency expects to count ballots for Question 10, on Alberta’s future in Canada, first. Results had not been reported as voting began. The vote follows campaigning by supporters of different...