Advance voting opened today, Tuesday, Oct. 13 ahead of Alberta’s Oct. 19 referendum, giving voters in the Vermilion-Wainwright-Lloydminster riding three locations to cast an early ballot.
Read more: ADM, Strathcona give Olive Tree $69,500
Advance voting runs until Saturday, Oct. 17, with all locations open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Advance voting locations and hours
Lloydminster voters can cast advance ballots at the Border Inn, 5411 44 Street.
Two other locations serve the riding: the Vermilion Elks Hall at 5026 49 Ave,, and the Wainwright Communiplex at 700 2 Ave.
All three sites keep the same 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. window through the advance voting period.
Voter ID requirements
Voters need to prove their identity and current address at the polls.
Elections Alberta says one piece of government-issued photo identification showing a voter’s full name, current address and photo is sufficient.
Voters without that option can present two pieces of identification that both show their full name, with at least one showing their current physical address.
A third option allows an authorized signatory to complete an attestation form on a voter’s behalf.
What’s on the ballot
The Oct. 19 vote follows months of debate over Alberta’s relationship with the rest of Canada, after a proposed referendum question on Alberta separation was approved late last year.
The province later launched a dedicated information site ahead of the vote, part of an effort to inform Albertans on the referendum process and the question they’ll be asked.
Only Alberta-side residents of Lloydminster are eligible to vote in the referendum, while Saskatchewan-side neighbours have no ballot but are watching closely given the shared economy and cross-border population of the Border City.
A result favouring further separatist action could carry implications for interprovincial trade, pensions and other policy areas that touch both sides of the Meridian line, though no formal Saskatchewan response has been announced.
Referendum day details
Voting day falls on Monday, Oct. 19, with regular polling stations expected to open across the province.
Residents with questions about voter eligibility, identification or polling locations can contact Elections Alberta directly or consult the province’s referendum information site.
Read more: Column: Why does fall always feels too short?
