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Overview....
The election was conducted on the boundaries described in the Electoral Divisions Act, which was proclaimed into effect along with the issuance of the writs for the Provincial General Election. Electoral division boundaries had been adjusted following the independent review of the 2002/2003 Alberta Electoral Boundaries Commission and the May 2003 acceptance of the revised electoral division boundaries by the Legislative Assembly. Order in Council 545/2004 proclaimed the new electoral division boundaries in force on October 25, 2004. Order in Council 544/2004 dissolved the Twenty-fifth Legislative Assembly on October 25, 2004, and Order 546/2004 signalled the commencement of the Provincial General Election by ordering the Chief Electoral Officer to issue Writs of Election to each of the 83 Returning Officers, pursuant to Section 40 of the Election Act.
Challenges....
Albertans went to the polls on November 22, 2004 for the third time in six months; our event was preceded by the federal election on June 28, 2004 and the municipal elections on October 18, 2004. Election process varies between events due to the differences in legislation governing each event and this can be confusing to the electorate. It was a particular challenge to effectively communicate to electors that elector eligibility criteria, polling places, voting hours, and voting options varied from the two electoral events preceding the Provincial General Election.
This challenge was compounded by the fact that electors went to the polls on new electoral division boundaries. Electors had become accustomed to the names of provincial electoral divisions that were in place since 1997, or electoral boundary names used during the municipal or federal elections.
Elections Alberta enhanced advertising, Internet presence and expanded the hours of operation for the phone-in Voter Information Centre to address these challenges. The website provided information such as polling place location, electoral division maps, hours of voting at the advance polls and on Polling Day, candidate listings and linkages (where available), and various voting options during over 470,000 site visits. The Voter Information Centre responded to over 16,000 phone-in queries, mainly regarding polling place location and the election process.
Other challenges arose from the administration of the Senate Nominee Election. It was important to notify electors of the event and to provide clear instruction for marking ballots. Unlike the Provincial General Election, electors were able to mark their ballots for up to four candidates.
This challenge extended to the training of election officers who were called upon to answer questions related to the historic event and, later, to count the ballots. Directions were provided verbally by election officers, in written form via the posters in each polling place, and in a multilingual written translation for electors who required that service.
Administering the two parallel events, and particularly tabulating the unofficial results, was a time-consuming process. Unofficial results were not available as quickly as in the past. Although notification of the expected delay was provided by Elections Alberta in advance, the delay in viewing unofficial results frustrated some stakeholders.
Election Training....
Returning Officers had selected individuals to assist them with the conduct of the election in advance of the event. Staff appointments were made upon receipt of the Writ of Election.
Each Returning Officer had an election clerk to assist them and to replace them in the event that the Returning Officer was unable to fulfil their duties. A legislative change allowed the recruitment of an additional staff person for the first time: an administrative assistant, whose responsibilities included data entry and Special Ballot poll management. Sixty-four Returning Officers hired an administrative assistant on a full-time basis, while 14 hired an individual part-time and 5 did not hire an administrative assistant.
Elections Alberta provided training to Returning Officers, election clerks and administrative assistants to prepare them to fulfil their duties. They received appropriate resources to provide standardized training to supervisory deputy returning officers, registration officers and deputy returning officers. As in past elections, poll clerks were briefed on their responsibilities by the deputy returning officers and followed the directions provided in the updated “Guide for Polling Place Officials”.
Returning Officers used those resources to train 7,270 electors to staff the polls on Polling Day. This demanding task is accomplished by Returning Officers in the latter part of the twenty-eight day election period. As with the enumeration, the election is a very labour-intensive process: 72% of the election budget is allocated to election officers’ fees.
Advertising....
The maps completed by Returning Officers in March 2004 were used in advertisements and posted at the polling places. Maps had been updated with new civic address data, where available, to ensure currency and accuracy.
In accordance with legislation, maps of each electoral division were advertised in newspapers of general circulation on two occasions during the election period. The first advertisement appeared in the first week of November, and included Election Proclamation information, Returning Officers’ office hours and contact information, qualifications for Special Ballot voters, and information regarding the availability of level access in the Returning Officers’ offices and advance polling places.
The second advertisement appeared in mid November, and included information on regular, advance and Special Ballot polls, along with the polling place maps.
Both advertisements appeared as inserts in the Edmonton and Calgary daily newspapers. Inserts included information for electoral divisions that shared a boundary with the cities, along with the electoral divisions within the two cities. As an added service, both inserts were hand-delivered to all residences of non-subscribers in Edmonton, Calgary and most urban centres in adjacent electoral divisions to best disseminate information to all electors.
Additional generic advertisements were published throughout the election period to encourage electors to obtain necessary polling day information from the Voter Information Centre or the Elections Alberta website. The advertisements appeared in 9 daily newspapers and 103 weekly newspapers.
Elector Information....
Electors had access to information throughout the election period from a number of sources. Information was compiled and made available on a timely basis, given that all activities in the electoral cycle occur following the issuance of the Writs of Election.
Returning Officers secured office space as soon as the Writs were issued, and contact information for them was available early in the election period. Offices were open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on weekdays and from noon to 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays. Extended hours were offered on key dates of the election period.
All Returning Officers had received furniture and election supplies by day three of the election period; in the interim, they were able to provide prospective candidates with necessary documentation and electors with Special Ballot packages. Returning Officers were able to respond to stakeholders’ immediate concerns even though the 80 tonnes of election supplies took three days to deliver across the province.
Locations of polling places were selected after the issuance of the Writs and made available to callers by day five of the election period, both on the website and through telephone contact.
Candidates’ nominations closed at 2:00 p.m. on the fourteenth day following the issuance of the Writs, and a listing of candidates for 82 electoral divisions was available on the website later that day. A complete listing of candidates for the electoral division of Bonnyville-Cold Lake was added the following day, following repair of the telecommunications cables which had been severed, cutting off telephone and Internet service to that region.
Elections Alberta’s website provided answers to commonly asked questions regarding polling place locations, eligibility criteria and availability of voter assistance. For the first time, electors were able to determine their polling place location following data entry of their civic address or rural legal land description. Electors were also able to confirm their inclusion on the List of Electors after entering the personal information necessary to confirm their identity and prohibit information gathering by unauthorized sources.
The website also included statistical information from previous events, an election calendar highlighting the key dates in the election period, contact information for Returning Officers across the province, and a listing of candidates for each electoral division (with website links, where available).
At the close of polls on Polling Day, electors were able to obtain unofficial results, as that information was entered by Returning Officers. The portion of the website containing poll by poll results, and aggregate results by party, was visited over 112,000 times on Polling Day.
The Voter Information Centre handled over 16,000 calls throughout the election period, including 6,327 on Polling Day. Operators were available 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on weekdays, and 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on weekends. Operators answered general inquiries and directed electors to their polling places.
Electors who were unable to obtain the information they required from the Returning Officer, Voter Information Centre or website were able to contact Elections Alberta by email. Email queries were answered on a timely basis, particularly the 447 where-to-vote queries received on Polling Day.
This combination of resources was designed to accommodate electors round-the-clock. Electors have, in past, expressed their concern that providing information during regular business hours does not always accommodate their schedules. The increased hours of operation and means for providing information have been adopted to address that concern.
Election Calendar....
The election calendar posted on the website highlighted the following key dates:
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| Monday, October 25 | Issuance of the Writs of Election to Returning Officers in the 83 electoral divisions | ||||
| Saturday, October 30 | First day for electors to be added to the List of Electors in the Returning Officers’ offices | ||||
| Monday, November 8 at 2:00 PM | Last opportunity for Candidates to file Nomination Papers in the Returning Officers’ offices | ||||
| Saturday, November 13 at 4:00 PM | Last opportunity for electors to be added to the List of Electors in the Returning Officers’ offices | ||||
| Thursday, November 18 | First day to vote in the Advance Polls (9:00 AM to 8:00 PM) | ||||
| Friday, November 19 | Second day to vote in the Advance Polls (9:00 AM to 8:00 PM) | ||||
| Saturday, November 20 |
Final day to vote in the Advance Polls (9:00 AM to 8:00 PM)
| Monday, November 22 POLLING DAY |
Polls open from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM; unofficial results web-posted
| Thursday, December 2 |
Official results announced by the Returning Officers in the 83 electoral divisions
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Legislative and Procedural Changes.... A comprehensive review of the Election Act resulted in almost 200 changes that were in effect for the 2004 electoral events. Many revisions were made to clarify or update the legislation, or to allow for increased administrative efficiencies. Others were to enhance the front-line service provided to electors. The following are highlights of some of the changes to the Election Act: Access to publicly held elector information, on a cost recovery basis, was expanded to allow Elections Alberta to economically update the Register of Electors using data held by public agencies. Enumerators were able to contact electors by telephone, where distances were a consideration, and to accept elector information provided by telephone. Access to multiple dwelling sites (including apartments and condominiums) was clarified to facilitate entry by enumerators and campaign workers. Returning Officers provided identification to enumerators and campaign workers to assist in this regard. Advance poll eligibility has been expanded to accommodate electors who believe they will be unable to vote on Polling Day. Two new election officer positions were available: administrative assistants, within the offices of the Returning Officers; and registration officers, within polling places holding multiple polling stations. Both positions were instituted to improve service to electors, the latter by streamlining the process of adding electors to the Lists of Electors on Polling Day. Poll Books were revised to include the List of Electors. This streamlined the voting process for electors whose names were included in the Register of Electors. Election officers were able to provide cover-off of any position within a polling place to avoid disruptions in service due to sudden absence or illness. Polling stations could be opened with only one election officer in attendance, if necessary, to avoid possible delays. Electors who are unable to vote in the usual manner due to a physical incapacity or inability to read the ballot have expanded options available to them. In addition to receiving assistance from election officers, they may be assisted by a friend who has accompanied them. An elector may also enlist a friend to provide translation services.
Nominated Candidates....
Nomination day was Monday, November 8, 2004. That was the last day on which prospective candidates were able to file nomination papers with the Returning Officer in the electoral division in which they wished to contest the election.
By 2:00 p.m., when nominations closed, 450 candidates had filed nomination papers. This represented the greatest number of candidates to contest a provincial election in Alberta’s history. The distribution of candidates by political party affiliation follows:
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| Alberta Alliance | 83 |
| Alberta Greens | 49 |
| Alberta Liberal Party | 82 |
| Alberta New Democratic Party | 83 |
| Alberta Party | 4 |
| Communist Party – Alberta | 2 |
| Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta | 83 |
| Separation Party of Alberta | 12 |
| Social Credit | 42 |
| Independent | 10 |
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No candidate withdrew following the close of nominations and no candidate was elected by acclamation.
Special Ballot Polls....
By legislation, a Special Ballot poll was established in each of the 83 electoral divisions. The poll is established to facilitate voting for electors who are not able to vote at the advance polls, or on Polling Day. It is often used by electors who are physically incapacitated or who travel, work or attend an educational institution outside of their own electoral divisions for extended periods. Availability of the Special Ballot was advertised in newspapers and on the website.
Special Ballot brochures were distributed to stakeholder groups whose members tend to use this voting option. Brochures were distributed on a proactive basis to trade unions, travel clubs, post-secondary educational institutions and the Canadian Armed Forces to allow them time to share information with their membership. This increased awareness directed electors’ early attention to this voting option.
The Special Ballot is often viewed as a mail-in ballot, but ballots may also be completed in the Returning Officer’s office or hand-delivered by an individual at the elector’s request. While every effort is made to provide a Special Ballot to an elector, it is a legislative requirement that an elector must request his or her own Special Ballot: it cannot be requested on his or her behalf by another person. This is to ensure that the Special Ballot is issued to, and completed by, the appropriate elector.
Electors may request a Special Ballot in person, by telephone, by facsimile, by electronic mail or in writing. The Special Ballot package uses a series of envelopes to protect the confidentiality of the ballot, and contains an elector’s declaration identifying the reason for use, along with an undertaking confirming that the elector has not yet voted and will not vote a second time.
In the same way that each elector must vote within their own electoral division, each elector must request a Special Ballot from the Returning Officer in his or her own electoral division and return it to the office from which it was issued. Although Special Ballot requests may be made electronically, original Special Ballots must be submitted to ensure authenticity and confidentiality.
Returning Officers sent Special Ballots throughout the province and even out of the country. Completed Special Ballot envelopes returned from Europe and Asia were commonplace. Electors were able to request a Special Ballot at the beginning of the election period and were able to vote for the candidate or political party of their choice. This helped to ensure that electors had adequate time to complete and return the Special Ballot by the close of polls on Polling Day.
A total of 7,358 valid Special Ballots were received by the close of polls on Polling Day, providing a valuable option to electors who otherwise may have been unable to exercise their franchise.
Advance Polls....
By legislation, advance polls were established in at least one location in each electoral division on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday prior to Polling Day. Up to four advance poll locations may be established to ensure elector convenience in electoral divisions that cover a large geographic area; additional locations may be established, if deemed necessary by the Chief Electoral Officer.
Advance polls were open from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on November 18, 19 and 20, 2004, at sites that offered level access. Returning Officers’ offices were used, where appropriate.
These polls were established to accommodate electors who were unable to vote on Polling Day due to:
A total of 44,807 valid ballots were cast at 165 advance polls.
Mobile Polls....
By legislation, mobile polls were established on Polling Day in treatment centres and in supportive living facilities with ten or more resident inpatients or electors, where consultation with facility staff found the service to be appropriate.
Mobile poll brochures were distributed to facility administrators early in the election period to inform them of the mobile poll process. Posters were provided to inform residents of the time and location for mobile polling within their facility to allow electors to plan appropriately for Polling Day.
Mobile polls accommodated electors within the facilities during hours agreed upon by facility staff, and were conducted in a fixed location, or by going bed-to-bed, or by using both methods, to best meet electors’ needs.
All electors identified by the facility staff as being well enough to vote are eligible to vote in the electoral division in which the facility is located. In accordance with legislation, facility staff can restrict participation to the deputy returning officer, poll clerk, interpreter, and facility representative, if appropriate for the well-being of the residents or inpatients.
A total of 17,639 valid ballots were cast at 477 mobile poll locations.
Polling Day....
By legislation, polls were open from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, November 22, 2004. There were 5,357 polling stations established across the province, each staffed by a deputy returning officer and poll clerk. Supervisory deputy returning officers were hired in polling places with multiple stations to assist in directing electors to the correct polling station. Registration officers were hired to assist electors whose names were not on the Lists of Electors, which expedited the process for all electors.
Election officers were responsible for setting up the polling places, taking the vote, swearing-in electors, conducting the unofficial count and returning all election material to the Returning Officers in a secure manner.
Election officers were also responsible for answering electors’ inquiries and for working with the scrutineers appointed by candidates to observe Polling Day proceedings. Both election officers and scrutineers are to be commended for their cooperative efforts in ensuring fairness and transparency in the process.
The role of election officers also includes the collection of information that will be used in updating the Register of Electors. Polling Day is an excellent opportunity to collect new and updated information from electors for use in refreshing the Register and subsequent Lists of Electors.
At the close of polls, election officers conducted the unofficial count for the Provincial General Election and the Senate Nominee Election, and telephoned results to the appropriate Returning Officer. All results were communicated in a timely manner and were made available in Returning Officers’ offices. For the first time, staff in Returning Officers’ offices data entered the unofficial results as they arrived and posted that information to the website. Interested parties were able to view poll-by-poll results, as well as results aggregated for the entire province, as they were posted. The information systems capability will be enhanced prior to the next electoral event in order to expedite the web-posting of unofficial results.
Additions to the List of Electors....
A total of 70,037 electors were added to the Lists of Electors during the Revisions Period and on Polling Day. This figure includes electors who did not provide information during the enumeration, those who moved, and those who attained the age, residency or citizenship requirements following the enumeration.
On average, 13 electors were sworn in at each regular polling station. Areas of high mobility or significant recent growth experienced the highest number of additions.
The Register of Electors contained 1,931,250 names following the Provincial General Enumeration. Names in the Register were used to create the Lists of Electors provided to registered political parties in October 2004 to meet the legislated requirement for providing a List of Electors in the fourth year following an election.
The number of names in the Register of Electors increased to 2,001,287 by the close of polls on Polling Day for the November 22, 2004 Provincial General Election. Names added during the Revisions Period and on Polling Day were included at that point.
By March 2005, the Register of Electors contained 1,982,843 names. Electors’ names had been removed from previous addresses and at electors’ requests following out-of-province moves. This final tally is also partially attributable to the number of electors who withheld consent for participation in the Register of Electors.
In order to receive a ballot, an elector’s name must appear on the List of Electors. It is not mandatory, however, to participate in the Register of Electors. Electors were encouraged to participate to increase the accuracy of future Lists and to reduce the number of electors having to swear-in to vote at the next electoral event. Still, some electors prefer not to have their names included in the Register on an ongoing basis, in spite of the fact that their information is used for electoral purposes only.
Opting out of the Register is one of the reasons that a certain number of Polling Day swear-ins must be anticipated at all electoral events. The addition of the registration officer on Polling Day helps to ensure that these electors are added to the List of Electors without delaying those electors who expect a streamlined voting process subsequent to their provision of Register information prior to Polling Day.
Accuracy of the Lists of Electors....
Accurate, current Lists of Electors are essential both for campaigning and effective Polling Day administration. The Lists of Electors distributed to registered political parties in October 2004, and subsequently used at the polls, were compared to the post-election Lists produced in March 2005 to gauge accuracy.
It is recognized that an indeterminate number of eligible electors actively choose not to participate in the electoral process, so it is acknowledged that the List of Electors does not contain every eligible elector. At the same time, a benchmark must be established to gauge accuracy. For that reason, the assumption is made that the post-election Lists of Electors are one hundred per cent accurate, since they include all electors who choose to provide information during the enumeration, the Revisions Period or on Polling Day.
Table 3 illustrates the accuracy of the Lists of Electors prepared following the enumeration in comparison to the post-election Lists. Overall, the Lists were found to be 97.4% accurate. Only 2.6% of electors that appeared on the March 2005 Lists of Electors were added during the Revisions Period and on Polling Day.
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| Electoral Division |
Number of Names on |
Number of Names on |
Accuracy of |
|
01 Dunvegan-Central Peace |
14,839 |
15,048 |
98.6% |
|
02 Calgary-Bow |
26,487 |
26,997 |
98.1% |
|
03 Calgary-Buffalo |
23,2114 |
24,098 |
96.3% |
|
04 Calgary-Cross |
21,602 |
22,026 |
98.1% |
|
05 Calgary-Currie |
22,680 |
24,261 |
93.5% |
|
06 Calgary-East |
21,887 |
22,463 |
97.4% |
|
07 Calgary-Egmont |
26,806 |
26,988 |
99.3% |
|
08 Calgary-Elbow |
24,997 |
25,683 |
97.3% |
|
09 Calgary-Fish Creek |
25,822 |
25,955 |
99.5% |
|
10 Calgary-Foothills |
26,705 |
27,272 |
97.9% |
|
11 Calgary-Fort |
22,561 |
23,017 |
98.0% |
|
12 Calgary-Glenmore |
25,283 |
25,536 |
99.0% |
|
13 Calgary-Hays |
24,379 |
24,724 |
98.6% |
|
14 Calgary-Lougheed |
25,718 |
26,033 |
98.8% |
|
15 Calgary-Mackay |
27,361 |
27,887 |
98.1% |
|
16 Calgary-McCall |
20,670 |
21,816 |
94.7% |
|
17 Calgary-Montrose |
21,654 |
21,893 |
98.9% |
|
18 Calgary-Mountain View |
25,637 |
27,085 |
94.7% |
|
19 Calgary-North Hill |
21,992 |
22,779 |
96.5% |
|
20 Calgary-North West |
31,815 |
32,615 |
97.5% |
|
21 Calgary-Nose Hill |
22,846 |
23,233 |
98.3% |
|
22 Calgary-Shaw |
25,761 |
26,120 |
98.6% |
|
23 Calgary-Varsity |
25,048 |
25,617 |
97.8% |
|
24 Calgary-West |
29,890 |
30,894 |
96.8% |
|
25 Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview |
22,627 |
23,311 |
97.1% |
|
26 Edmonton-Calder |
22,461 |
23,226 |
96.7% |
|
27 Edmonton-Castle Downs |
28,356 |
28,901 |
98.1% |
|
28 Edmonton-Centre |
20,001 |
21,747 |
92.0% |
|
29 Edmonton-Decore |
24,036 |
24,515 |
98.0% |
|
30 Edmonton-Ellerslie |
22,798 |
23,319 |
97.8% |
|
31 Edmonton-Glenora |
21,757 |
23,050 |
94.4% |
|
32 Edmonton-Gold Bar |
24,115 |
25,002 |
96.5% |
|
33 Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood |
21,558 |
22,569 |
95.5% |
|
34 Edmonton-Manning |
24,529 |
24,859 |
98.7% |
|
35 Edmonton-McClung |
23,845 |
24,848 |
96.0% |
|
36 Edmonton-Meadowlark |
23,073 |
23,572 |
97.9% |
|
37 Edmonton-Mill Creek |
23,269 |
24,365 |
95.5% |
|
38 Edmonton-Mill Woods |
22,524 |
23,100 |
97.5% |
|
39 Edmonton-Riverview |
23,645 |
24,747 |
95.5% |
|
40 Edmonton-Rutherford |
23,211 |
23,868 |
97.2% |
|
41 Edmonton-Strathcona |
22,028 |
24,096 |
91.4% |
|
42 Edmonton-Whitemud |
30,078 |
31,027 |
96.9% |
|
43 Airdrie-Chestermere |
29,382 |
29,938 |
98.1% |
|
44 Athabasca-Redwater |
23,320 |
23,739 |
98.2% |
|
45 Banff-Cochrane |
20,467 |
21,095 |
97.0% |
|
46 Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock |
22,172 |
22,650 |
97.9% |
|
47 Battle River-Wainwright |
20,097 |
20,190 |
99.5% |
|
48 Bonnyville-Cold Lake |
17,704 |
18,022 |
98.2% |
|
49 Cardston-Taber-Warner |
18,672 |
18,867 |
99.0% |
|
50 Cypress-Medicine Hat |
21,695 |
21,887 |
99.1% |
|
51 Drayton Valley-Calmar |
18,388 |
19,017 |
96.7% |
|
52 Drumheller-Stettler |
20,063 |
20,571 |
97.5% |
|
53 Foothills-Rocky View |
21,143 |
22,435 |
94.2% |
|
54 Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo |
25,578 |
26,292 |
97.3% |
|
55 Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville |
24,177 |
24,655 |
98.1% |
|
56 Grande Prairie-Smoky |
21,044 |
21,748 |
96.8% |
|
57 Grande Prairie-Wapiti |
21,527 |
22,089 |
97.5% |
|
58 Highwood |
22,591 |
23,281 |
97.0% |
|
59 Innisfail-Sylvan Lake |
23,419 |
23,855 |
98.2% |
|
60 Lac La Biche-St. Paul |
17,909 |
18,269 |
98.0% |
|
61 Lacombe-Ponoka |
24,977 |
26,127 |
95.6% |
|
62 Leduc-Beaumont-Devon |
26,343 |
26,661 |
98.8% |
|
63 Lesser Slave Lake |
18,660 |
18,914 |
98.7% |
|
64 Lethbridge-East |
25,944 |
26,150 |
99.2% |
|
65 Lethbridge-West |
23,408 |
24,176 |
96.8% |
|
66 Little Bow |
19,295 |
19,649 |
98.2% |
|
67 Livingstone-Macleod |
21,430 |
22,253 |
96.3% |
|
68 Medicine Hat |
25,107 |
25,459 |
98.6% |
|
69 Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills |
21,291 |
21,928 |
97.1% |
|
70 Peace River |
16,567 |
16,993 |
97.5% |
|
71 Red Deer-North |
21,625 |
22,276 |
97.1% |
|
72 Red Deer-South |
26,748 |
27,146 |
98.5% |
|
73 Rocky Mountain House |
20,868 |
21,339 |
97.8% |
|
74 Sherwood Park |
26,088 |
26,309 |
99.2% |
|
75 Spruce Grove-Sturgeon-St. Albert |
26,816 |
27,435 |
97.7% |
|
76 St. Albert |
28,191 |
28,731 |
98.1% |
|
77 Stony Plain |
24,978 |
25,799 |
96.8% |
|
78 Strathcona |
26,891 |
27,605 |
97.4% |
|
79 Strathmore-Brooks |
25,237 |
25,368 |
99.5% |
|
80 Vermilion-Lloydminster |
21,472 |
21,600 |
99.4% |
|
81 West Yellowhead |
16,710 |
17,571 |
95.1% |
|
82 Wetaskiwin-Camrose |
23,593 |
23,967 |
98.4% |
|
83 Whitecourt-Ste. Anne |
20,101 |
20,625 |
97.5% |
|
Totals: |
1,931,250 |
1,982,843 |
97.4% |
|
1This represents the number of names on the Lists of Electors after
elector information was confirmed, revised, added and deleted during the August 28 to September
12 door-to-door Enumeration. |
|||
|
Official Results.... The official results were announced by each of the 83 Returning Officers on Thursday, December 2, 2004. No controverted election petition was filed for the election.
Judicial Recount....
One judicial recount was requested, pursuant to Section 144 of the Election Act. The unofficial count conducted on Polling Day in the electoral division of Edmonton-Castle Downs showed a five vote margin of victory for the Alberta Liberal Party candidate over the second place candidate, representing the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta.
Returning Officers in all electoral divisions are required to perform an official count of ballots. This began on Tuesday, November 23 in Edmonton-Castle Downs. The two leading candidates were present, or had representatives present, throughout the official count. The official results announced by the Returning Officer on December 2 reduced the margin of victory for the Alberta Liberal Candidate to three votes.
The Returning Officer’s decision was appealed by the Progressive Conservative candidate, and a judicial recount of certain disputed ballots was conducted. The Order filed in the Court of Queen’s Bench on December 9 confirmed a three vote margin of victory for the Liberal candidate, although the assessment of certain ballots varied from that of the Returning Officer.
The Progressive Conservative candidate appealed the decision of the judicial recount to the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal deemed ten ballots as valid which had been disallowed previously: eight for the Progressive Conservative candidate, and two for the Liberal candidate. Lukaszuk v. Kibermanis, 2005 ABCA 26 cites, in part:
Voting is the lifeblood of democracy and courts should be very slow to disenfranchise voters on the basis of a technical non-compliance with voting instructions. Restrictions on this right should be narrowly interpreted and strictly limited. This is particularly true in our pluralistic and multi-cultural society where citizens enjoy differing levels of education, language comprehension and physical dexterity. Therefore, in a conflict between principle and technicality, principle must govern.
The judgment is available at www.albertacourts.ab.ca.
As a result of the decision, the Progressive Conservative candidate was declared elected by three votes.
Custody and Inspection of Election Documents....
Polling Day documentation for 82 electoral divisions was returned to Elections Alberta following the announcement of the Official Results, in accordance with Section 142 of the Election Act. In accordance with that Section, Polling Day documentation for Edmonton-Castle Downs was retained by the Returning Officer until the conclusion of the judicial recount.
Section 152 authorizes candidates and their official agents to review all Polling Day documentation for their electoral division, with the exception of the ballots, in the thirty-day period following the publication of the names of elected Members of the Legislative Assembly in the Alberta Gazette. Seven candidates and official agents availed themselves of this opportunity.
During this same time period, candidates and their official agents are entitled to obtain copies of the Poll Books used at the election. Thirty-eight candidates and official agents requested copies on a cost-recovery basis.
Continous Register of Electors Management....
Elector information collected throughout the election period and on Polling Day was incorporated into the Register of Electors, where permission was granted by the elector, for preparation of future Lists of Electors.
Lists were updated following the election and distributed to registered political parties and Members of the Legislative Assembly under Section 19(2) of the Election Act. Restrictions for use are contained at Section 20, to ensure elector information is used appropriately. Penalties for misuse include fines up to $100,000, or a term of imprisonment up to one year, or both. Lists were provided in an electronic format to facilitate use by recipients and to promote security through the use of passwords.
Section 18 directs that both registered political parties and Independent Members of the Legislative Assembly receive updated Lists on a regular basis. Updated Lists must be provided immediately after the election, two years after the election, during the fourth and fifth years following the election, and following any updates made to the Register subsequent to electoral division boundary revisions.
With any large database, it is a major challenge to compare and correct entries against other data sets. It is particularly challenging when some entries cannot be matched conclusively because of incomplete information. This is particularly difficult in the case of common names where birth date and previous address information is unavailable.
Maintaining the accuracy and currency of Lists of Electors will become an increasing priority at Elections Alberta. Possible data sources are being reviewed for use in updating Register information on an ongoing basis. Recent legislative amendments will support the economical acquisition of accurate, timely data held by public agencies. Data collection will continue to reconcile the need for updated information with the electors’ rights to privacy.
Candidates' Deposits....
The candidate’s nomination deposit prescribed by legislation increased from $200 for the 2001 Provincial General Election to $500 for this event. The increase is not as substantial as it appears due to the refund policy. All candidates who win or who receive half the votes of the winning candidate receive half of the deposit back. In addition, those who file candidate campaign financial statements within the prescribed period receive half of the deposit back.
In accordance with Section 62 of the Election Act, 130 candidates received a refund of half the amount of their candidate nomination deposits for receiving the most votes, or at least fifty per cent of the votes received by the winning candidate.
In addition, 435 candidates received a refund of half the amount of their candidate nomination deposits by filing a financial statement within the legislated timeline.
A breakdown follows:
|
| Number nominated | Number received refund based on votes received |
Number received refund for timely filing | |
| Alberta Alliance | 83 | 2 | 74 |
| Alberta Greens | 49 | 0 | 47 |
| Alberta Liberal Party | 82 | 43 | 82 |
| Alberta New Democratic Party | 83 | 7 | 82 |
| Alberta Party | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Communist Party – Alberta | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta |
83 | 78 | 83 |
| Separation Party of Alberta | 12 | 0 | 11 |
| Social Credit | 42 | 0 | 41 |
| Independent | 10 | 0 | 9 |
|
In total, $83,750 was forfeited and was paid through Elections Alberta to the Minister of Finance for deposit to the General Revenue Fund. Cost Summary Overview...2004 General Election | |||||||||||||||
| Election Officials’ Fees and Associated Costs | ||
| Total reported by all Electoral Divisions | $ 5,969,844 | |
| Office of the Chief Electoral Officer | ||
| Materials and Supplies | $ 53,874 | |
| Contract Services | 563,171 | |
| Advertising | 33,381 | |
| Temporary Staff—wages and benefits | 103,037 | |
| Freight and Postage | 27,240 | |
| Rentals | 24,349 | |
| Travel | 36,165 | |
| Telephone and Communications | 33,625 | 874,842 |
| Total Expenses: | $ 6,844,686 | |
| Number of Names on the November 2004 List of Electors | 2,001,287 | |
| Average cost per name on List of Electors | $ 3.42 | |
|
Table 5: 2004 General Election Cost Summary by Electoral Division (To Nearest Dollar) |
|
|
|
Returning Officers |
Election |
Admin. |
Election Staff |
Other |
|
||||||||
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
|
|
Electoral Division |
Fees |
Rental |
Advertising |
Printing |
Fees |
Fees |
SDRO |
RGO |
DRO |
Poll Clerk |
Support |
Travel |
Poll |
Total |
|
|
1 |
Dunvegan-Central Peace |
8,583 |
3,965 |
2,604 |
898 |
5,877 |
0 |
550 |
510 |
14,355 |
9,450 |
115 |
3,300 |
6,975 |
57,181 |
|
2 |
Calgary-Bow |
9,929 |
7,121 |
3,898 |
2,594 |
7,507 |
3,212 |
3,025 |
3,060 |
17,575 |
11,250 |
872 |
141 |
5,625 |
75,808 |
|
3 |
Calgary-Buffalo |
10,092 |
8,583 |
3,898 |
1,620 |
6,783 |
3,093 |
3,025 |
3,570 |
16,254 |
10,581 |
11,232 |
715 |
5,715 |
85,161 |
|
4 |
Calgary-Cross |
9,733 |
7,522 |
3,898 |
1,425 |
6,759 |
2,726 |
2,475 |
2,805 |
14,235 |
9,150 |
529 |
186 |
4,875 |
66,318 |
|
5 |
Calgary-Currie |
9,870 |
8,207 |
3,898 |
1,628 |
6,754 |
2,877 |
4,350 |
3,060 |
17,525 |
10,950 |
2,040 |
304 |
6,000 |
77,462 |
|
6 |
Calgary-East |
9,774 |
2,896 |
3,898 |
1,540 |
6,868 |
2,877 |
3,025 |
2,805 |
15,645 |
9,900 |
966 |
0 |
5,450 |
65,643 |
|
7 |
Calgary-Egmont |
9,998 |
8,436 |
3,898 |
1,258 |
7,511 |
3,534 |
2,475 |
1,785 |
17,055 |
10,950 |
351 |
147 |
5,850 |
73,248 |
|
8 |
Calgary-Elbow |
10,175 |
5,598 |
3,898 |
2,575 |
7,356 |
3,242 |
3,850 |
2,040 |
17,290 |
11,100 |
173 |
143 |
5,925 |
73,365 |
|
9 |
Calgary-Fish Creek |
10,231 |
3,089 |
3,898 |
1,036 |
7,369 |
2,733 |
2,200 |
510 |
14,940 |
9,600 |
245 |
102 |
5,175 |
61,127 |
|
10 |
Calgary-Foothills |
10,658 |
7,374 |
3,898 |
2,240 |
6,951 |
3,541 |
3,300 |
2,805 |
16,215 |
10,350 |
1,170 |
231 |
5,850 |
74,583 |
|
11 |
Calgary-Fort |
9,347 |
5,786 |
3,898 |
1,499 |
6,560 |
1,961 |
3,025 |
2,805 |
14,655 |
9,450 |
253 |
7 |
5,250 |
64,496 |
|
12 |
Calgary-Glenmore |
9,554 |
4,102 |
3,898 |
1,110 |
6,898 |
3,432 |
3,025 |
2,805 |
15,645 |
10,050 |
686 |
30 |
5,625 |
66,859 |
|
13 |
Calgary-Hays |
10,132 |
7,857 |
3,898 |
1,073 |
7,178 |
2,877 |
1,650 |
2,295 |
15,930 |
10,200 |
124 |
0 |
4,138 |
67,352 |
|
14 |
Calgary-Lougheed |
9,619 |
3,220 |
3,898 |
1,110 |
7,374 |
3,322 |
2,750 |
3,000 |
15,980 |
10,050 |
115 |
46 |
4,950 |
65,435 |
|
15 |
Calgary-Mackay |
10,506 |
9,377 |
3,898 |
1,832 |
7,612 |
3,088 |
3,575 |
4,080 |
18,750 |
12,000 |
1,472 |
238 |
6,225 |
82,653 |
|
16 |
Calgary-McCall |
9,115 |
8,973 |
3,898 |
1,430 |
6,736 |
3,651 |
2,475 |
3,880 |
14,285 |
9,150 |
1,054 |
29 |
5,025 |
69,700 |
|
17 |
Calgary-Montrose |
9,762 |
11,111 |
3,898 |
1,425 |
6,760 |
3,096 |
2,750 |
0 |
13,765 |
9,000 |
2,686 |
295 |
4,800 |
69,347 |
|
18 |
Calgary-Mountain View |
10,731 |
9,618 |
3,898 |
1,730 |
6,890 |
3,502 |
4,125 |
4,080 |
18,800 |
11,800 |
3,762 |
275 |
5,955 |
85,166 |
|
19 |
Calgary-North Hill |
9,935 |
10,139 |
3,898 |
1,425 |
6,522 |
2,650 |
3,025 |
2,040 |
17,240 |
10,500 |
643 |
728 |
5,500 |
74,245 |
|
20 |
Calgary-North West |
10,777 |
6,426 |
3,898 |
2,635 |
7,799 |
2,877 |
3,575 |
5,100 |
21,570 |
14,100 |
1,602 |
0 |
7,500 |
87,857 |
|
21 |
Calgary-Nose Hill |
9,378 |
4,718 |
3,898 |
1,526 |
6,600 |
3,242 |
2,750 |
2,550 |
16,165 |
10,400 |
288 |
286 |
5,625 |
67,426 |
|
22 |
Calgary-Shaw |
10,375 |
6,388 |
3,898 |
1,073 |
7,388 |
2,883 |
2,475 |
2,805 |
17,005 |
10,950 |
933 |
0 |
5,625 |
71,799 |
|
23 |
Calgary-Varsity |
9,810 |
10,067 |
3,898 |
1,654 |
7,392 |
2,093 |
5,500 |
5,155 |
19,740 |
12,300 |
2,530 |
179 |
6,675 |
86,992 |
|
24 |
Calgary-West |
10,509 |
7,153 |
3,898 |
1,933 |
8,148 |
3,212 |
3,850 |
3,060 |
19,035 |
12,300 |
759 |
164 |
6,375 |
80,397 |
|
25 |
Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview |
9,407 |
5,295 |
4,441 |
1,523 |
6,615 |
2,932 |
3,850 |
3,570 |
15,425 |
9,450 |
184 |
95 |
5,550 |
68,337 |
|
26 |
Edmonton-Calder |
9,439 |
5,575 |
4,441 |
1,650 |
6,401 |
3,139 |
3,850 |
3,568 |
17,105 |
10,950 |
1,116 |
317 |
5,850 |
73,401 |
|
27 |
Edmonton-Castle Downs |
11,662 |
4,538 |
4,441 |
1,620 |
7,790 |
2,880 |
3,575 |
3,825 |
19,035 |
12,150 |
2,334 |
209 |
5,995 |
80,053 |
|
28 |
Edmonton-Centre |
9,197 |
5,960 |
4,441 |
1,300 |
6,816 |
3,132 |
4,400 |
4,590 |
19,270 |
12,300 |
711 |
313 |
6,600 |
79,031 |
|
29 |
Edmonton-Decore |
9,587 |
5,068 |
4,441 |
1,894 |
6,756 |
3,345 |
2,750 |
2,550 |
15,930 |
9,900 |
0 |
125 |
5,475 |
67,821 |
|
30 |
Edmonton-Ellerslie |
9,514 |
7,852 |
4,441 |
1,080 |
6,999 |
2,862 |
2,750 |
3,010 |
15,225 |
9,750 |
56 |
308 |
5,475 |
69,322 |
|
31 |
Edmonton-Glenora |
9,967 |
5,025 |
4,441 |
1,960 |
6,566 |
743 |
3,575 |
1,020 |
15,695 |
10,200 |
552 |
18 |
5,175 |
64,939 |
|
32 |
Edmonton-Gold Bar |
10,197 |
4,785 |
4,441 |
1,152 |
7,234 |
2,883 |
3,575 |
2,805 |
18,415 |
11,850 |
190 |
82 |
6,675 |
74,285 |
|
|
SUBTOTAL |
317,564 |
211,823 |
127,786 |
50,447 |
224,768 |
91,638 |
101,150 |
91,543 |
535,754 |
342,081 |
39,740 |
9,014 |
183,503 |
2,326,810 |
|
33 |
Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood |
9,786 |
4,693 |
4,441 |
1,400 |
6,894 |
2,877 |
4,125 |
3,825 |
17,540 |
10,850 |
0 |
52 |
5,775 |
72,258 |
|
34 |
Edmonton-Manning |
10,195 |
3,764 |
4,441 |
1,700 |
6,814 |
2,775 |
3,850 |
3,570 |
17,995 |
11,400 |
0 |
48 |
6,375 |
72,927 |
|
35 |
Edmonton-McClung |
9,677 |
8,265 |
4,441 |
2,054 |
7,258 |
3,315 |
3,575 |
3,570 |
16,820 |
10,650 |
601 |
186 |
6,075 |
76,487 |
|
36 |
Edmonton-Meadowlark |
9,518 |
6,797 |
4,441 |
1,624 |
7,046 |
3,096 |
2,750 |
2,805 |
16,635 |
10,650 |
105 |
174 |
5,475 |
71,116 |
|
37 |
Edmonton-Mill Creek |
10,133 |
4,134 |
4,441 |
1,152 |
7,119 |
2,883 |
3,300 |
3,060 |
16,735 |
10,800 |
725 |
258 |
5,250 |
69,991 |
|
38 |
Edmonton-Mill Woods |
9,866 |
5,816 |
4,441 |
1,320 |
6,566 |
2,877 |
3,575 |
3,315 |
16,165 |
10,200 |
0 |
61 |
5,700 |
69,903 |
|
39 |
Edmonton-Riverview |
10,174 |
8,436 |
4,441 |
1,470 |
7,228 |
2,541 |
3,850 |
3,825 |
18,565 |
11,700 |
0 |
129 |
6,450 |
78,810 |
|
40 |
Edmonton-Rutherford |
9,536 |
5,522 |
4,441 |
1,080 |
7,073 |
0 |
3,025 |
2,027 |
15,880 |
10,425 |
682 |
76 |
5,550 |
65,317 |
|
41 |
Edmonton-Strathcona |
10,077 |
4,176 |
4,441 |
1,224 |
7,179 |
3,177 |
4,125 |
2,805 |
16,350 |
10,500 |
620 |
169 |
5,850 |
70,692 |
|
42 |
Edmonton-Whitemud |
10,529 |
8,775 |
4,441 |
2,852 |
7,661 |
3,418 |
3,575 |
4,645 |
20,160 |
12,900 |
1,967 |
226 |
7,125 |
88,274 |
|
43 |
Airdrie-Chestermere |
10,499 |
5,937 |
6,527 |
1,933 |
7,476 |
1,452 |
3,300 |
3,315 |
19,020 |
12,300 |
1,742 |
2,439 |
7,043 |
82,983 |
|
44 |
Athabasca-Redwater |
10,179 |
4,661 |
9,188 |
1,017 |
7,144 |
2,212 |
2,200 |
2,295 |
20,145 |
13,050 |
257 |
3,938 |
9,330 |
85,617 |
|
45 |
Banff-Cochrane |
9,437 |
5,035 |
2,756 |
2,399 |
6,330 |
3,315 |
1,375 |
2,550 |
15,830 |
10,050 |
278 |
2,424 |
5,570 |
67,348 |
|
46 |
Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock |
9,714 |
4,944 |
3,049 |
1,190 |
6,945 |
2,877 |
1,650 |
1,020 |
18,635 |
12,150 |
64 |
3,747 |
7,385 |
73,370 |
|
47 |
Battle River-Wainwright |
8,948 |
2,928 |
4,867 |
1,664 |
6,618 |
0 |
550 |
255 |
17,460 |
11,250 |
829 |
3,151 |
3,990 |
62,511 |
|
48 |
Bonnyville-Cold Lake |
9,258 |
5,597 |
2,508 |
1,680 |
5,813 |
3,096 |
825 |
765 |
15,495 |
10,050 |
16 |
4,297 |
6,225 |
65,625 |
|
49 |
Cardston-Taber-Warner |
9,263 |
2,461 |
1,627 |
970 |
6,560 |
3,139 |
1,375 |
765 |
15,815 |
10,350 |
334 |
4,284 |
4,205 |
61,148 |
|
50 |
Cypress-Medicine Hat |
9,529 |
3,924 |
2,069 |
1,713 |
6,979 |
2,877 |
2,200 |
1,275 |
17,325 |
11,250 |
807 |
3,132 |
7,475 |
70,555 |
|
51 |
Drayton Valley-Calmar |
9,234 |
5,786 |
4,067 |
1,933 |
6,411 |
3,205 |
825 |
765 |
16,015 |
10,350 |
197 |
2,310 |
7,500 |
68,597 |
|
52 |
Drumheller-Stettler |
9,097 |
3,099 |
6,642 |
1,777 |
6,568 |
3,552 |
1,100 |
1,275 |
17,460 |
11,370 |
359 |
4,422 |
4,140 |
70,859 |
|
53 |
Foothills-Rocky View |
9,788 |
7,619 |
8,313 |
1,036 |
7,178 |
2,950 |
2,200 |
1,530 |
14,640 |
9,600 |
294 |
3,449 |
6,095 |
74,691 |
|
54 |
Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo |
10,609 |
8,689 |
2,830 |
2,350 |
6,790 |
3,827 |
2,750 |
2,295 |
15,965 |
10,350 |
1,242 |
1,843 |
6,300 |
75,840 |
|
55 |
Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville |
9,891 |
8,136 |
7,369 |
1,632 |
6,783 |
2,744 |
3,800 |
6,690 |
18,910 |
12,550 |
248 |
2,333 |
7,806 |
88,891 |
|
56 |
Grande Prairie-Smoky |
9,913 |
4,188 |
3,398 |
1,085 |
6,916 |
2,877 |
2,200 |
2,040 |
19,340 |
12,600 |
103 |
3,558 |
8,025 |
76,242 |
|
57 |
Grande Prairie-Wapiti |
9,634 |
6,323 |
2,091 |
1,085 |
6,747 |
2,733 |
2,475 |
2,295 |
16,250 |
10,500 |
552 |
2,738 |
6,900 |
70,322 |
|
58 |
Highwood |
9,978 |
5,287 |
7,232 |
1,851 |
7,055 |
3,757 |
1,650 |
3,265 |
15,595 |
10,050 |
610 |
2,092 |
3,091 |
71,513 |
|
59 |
Innisfail-Sylvan Lake |
9,643 |
3,659 |
2,898 |
1,375 |
7,090 |
2,986 |
1,650 |
1,275 |
17,325 |
11,250 |
0 |
2,248 |
5,748 |
67,146 |
|
60 |
Lac La Biche-St. Paul |
7,686 |
3,556 |
2,777 |
1,376 |
6,318 |
3,205 |
1,100 |
1,020 |
14,875 |
9,750 |
0 |
3,766 |
6,600 |
62,030 |
|
61 |
Lacombe-Ponoka |
10,914 |
8,539 |
3,637 |
1,396 |
7,393 |
2,883 |
2,200 |
1,835 |
17,880 |
11,550 |
499 |
4,490 |
3,935 |
77,150 |
|
62 |
Leduc-Beaumont-Devon |
10,568 |
1,558 |
7,516 |
1,390 |
7,476 |
1,452 |
2,750 |
1,275 |
19,290 |
12,150 |
817 |
1,285 |
6,506 |
74,031 |
|
63 |
Lesser Slave Lake |
9,890 |
5,637 |
1,547 |
2,303 |
6,625 |
|||||||||
