Edmonton’s municipal election faced voting and counting delays due to various issues, according to Edmonton Elections. Labour shortages, power outages, and technology glitches were identified as the primary causes, the city’s election agency announced on Tuesday.
On election night, polls were supposed to close at 8 p.m. MT, but extended voting hours were necessary at some locations to accommodate long lines, resulting in the first results being reported just before 10:30 p.m. Counting was momentarily halted at 1 a.m. Tuesday before resuming at 9 a.m. to determine the new mayor and councillors for Edmonton.
By 2 p.m., Tim Cartmell conceded the race, acknowledging three-term city councillor Andrew Knack as the mayor-elect. Some voters experienced prolonged wait times on Monday, attributed to a different voting process this year, as explained by Edmonton Elections to CBC News in an email.
Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams expressed his disappointment in the delays, emphasizing that municipalities had ample time to prepare for the new election rules introduced in the spring of 2024. While acknowledging challenges like labour shortages and technical issues faced by Edmonton Elections, Williams highlighted the importance of maintaining confidence in the electoral process at the municipal level.
Drew Westwater, retired deputy chief electoral officer at Elections Alberta, noted the difficulty in predicting staffing requirements for such a count, especially for those managing a manual election for the first time. He recognized the learning curve for municipal clerks and administrators transitioning from traditional voting machines to a manual process.
Edmonton voter Susan Babcock criticized the switch to paper ballots, advocating for proven automated vote counting technology. Coun. Michael Janz and Coun. Aaron Paquette voiced concerns over the additional costs and inefficiencies associated with the new ballot system, urging the provincial government to reconsider the ban on electronic vote tabulators.
Edmonton Elections reported that 30% of all votes were released on election night, with counting underway at the Edmonton Expo Centre the following morning. The unofficial voter turnout was disclosed at 30.27%, representing 205,758 of 679,830 eligible voters, the lowest turnout since 2007.
Preliminary results are expected to be released today, with Edmonton Elections aiming to provide updates as ballots are counted and verified. The 2021 civic election saw a record 236,000 voters, underscoring the significance of voter engagement in local elections.
