In Alberta, the election results are anticipated to be delayed this year due to the shift from electronic machines to manual counting. The province passed a law banning electronic vote tabulators, which has led to concerns about increased time, expenses, and the potential for more spoiled ballots in various municipalities.
Calgary’s chief returning officer, Kate Martin, mentioned the city’s preparations, including adding more voting stations and election workers. While the mayoral results are expected on election night, the outcomes for council and trustee races may take longer to determine.
Smaller municipalities like Okotoks and Cochrane are also adjusting to the new counting method. Okotoks, which has traditionally used electronic tabulators, is bracing for a longer counting process. Similarly, Cochrane will verify each ballot twice and pause counting at midnight, resuming the next day.
The City of Airdrie has opted for the “kangaroo method,” a faster tallying approach, but results for council and school trustee races may not be announced until late Wednesday. Red Deer is also adopting this method, with official results expected by Friday noon.
One challenge with manual counting is the potential for more spoiled ballots, as errors that machines would catch may go unnoticed. The costs for the election have doubled for many municipalities due to the increased labor required for manual counting.
While the province believes manual counting enhances confidence in election results, some municipalities are hoping for a return to automated tabulators in the future, citing efficiency and security concerns.
Overall, the transition to manual counting in Alberta is causing delays and increased costs for municipalities, prompting discussions about the best methods for future elections.
