Elections Alberta
Election commission overview
Formed1977
JurisdictionElections Act, Election Finance Contributions and Disclosure Act, Senatorial Selection Act
Headquarters11510 Kingsway NW
Suite 100
Edmonton, Alberta
Employees21 staff (18,000 during elections)[1]
Annual budget$3,785,459 (2014)[2]
Election commission executives
  • Glen Resler, Chief Electoral Officer
  • Pamela Renwick, Deputy Chief Electoral Officer
Websiteelections.ab.ca

Elections Alberta is an independent, non-partisan office of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta responsible for administering provincial elections, by-elections, referendums within the province. This is in accordance with the Alberta Election Act.[3] Elections Alberta also oversees political parties and candidates in accordance with the Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act.[4]

History

The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer (Elections Alberta), was created in 1977 to act as an independent body to oversee Alberta's Elections Finances and Contribution Disclosure Act and Election Act. Prior to 1977, these acts were overseen by the clerk of the Legislative Assembly.[5]

Jurisdiction

Elections Alberta oversees the creation of political parties and riding associations, compiles election statistics on ridings, and collects financial statements from party candidates and riding associations. It maintains a list of electors, through enumeration that occurs before an election. Elections Alberta is also responsible for enacting legislation relating to elections passed in the Legislative Assembly, including electoral boundary changes and Elections finance laws.[6]

Services

Elections Alberta is tasked with printing and distributing maps and Elections Alberta–related campaign materials and guides to candidates and party officials. It is mandated to issue an annual report, as well as reports after each election. These reports contain new and deregistered riding associations, party executives and contact information, donations to parties, changes to electors data, election cost by riding and as a whole, the names of returning officers are among the information in annual reports.[7]

Electoral Boundaries Commission

Electoral boundary changes come from the Alberta Electoral Boundaries Commission, made up of five appointed members. The commission collects input from residents and politicians, then draws up the divisions based on enumeration and census data. A bill is then introduced and voted on in the Legislative Assembly. Minor changes may be made and introduced by members. Changes are then implemented by the chief electoral officer.

An expansion from 83 to 87 ridings was recommended by the commission in June 2010, and their report with the new riding boundaries was in effect for the April 2012 general election.[8]

On recommendation from the Chief Electoral Officer, Glen Resler, Bill 7 was introduced on April 12, 2016, which amended the Electoral Boundaries Commission Act to authorize the appointment of a commission on or before October 31, 2016. This is so that there was sufficient time for Elections Alberta to implement the new boundaries in time for the 2019 Alberta general election.[9]

Candidacy fees and refunds

In 1905, the nomination deposit was set at $100, a figure that was well beyond the means of ordinary citizens at the time. Despite inflation, this fee was not changed until 1992 when it was doubled to $200, thus remaining a nominal sum to many Albertans. In 2004, the government controversially increased the required deposit again, to $500, although it became easier to get half of the new deposit back. The government contended that the increase was necessary to deter frivolous candidacies, encourage timely filing of financial statements, and help pay for Elections Alberta's expenses. Some smaller parties argue that an excessively high deposit represents an unacceptable "user fee" on democracy.

Prior to the 2004 general election a candidate received their deposit back if they were elected or received at least one half the votes of the elected candidate. Candidates who failed to meet these benchmarks forfeited their deposits. Starting with the 2004 election however, the refund policy described above only applies to half of the new deposit ($250). The other half of the deposit is refunded if the candidate files the required financial statements with Elections Alberta within the prescribed time frame, regardless of how many votes they receive. Therefore, a failed candidate who files timely financial statements would lose $250. A change in legislation in 2010 led to the deposit being fully refundable to candidates who file their post-election financial report on time.

Prospective senate nominees are required to deposit $4,000 along with nomination papers signed by 1,500 Albertans. Candidates must be at least 30 years old in accordance with the Constitution of Canada requirement that senators own $4,000 worth of property.[10][11]

Senate nominees

Alberta began to hold Alberta Senate nominee elections in 1989 and remains the only province to do so. The three candidates who receive the most votes are recommended to the Canadian prime minister as Senate candidates, but there is no legal or constitutional obligation to appoint them. The prime minister has appointed three nominees to the Senate: Reform Party member Stan Waters in 1990 by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, and Bert Brown in 2007 and Doug Black in 2013, both by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The winners of the April 23, 2012 Senate nominee election were all Progressive Conservative Party candidates, Doug Black, Scott Tannas, and Mike Shaikh. Doug Black received the most votes and was consequently appointed to the Senate on January 25, 2013.[12]

Election costs

Year of election Total expenses Electoral division cost CEO Office cost Electors on list Average cost/elector Turnout Percentage Sources
2001 $3,538,644 $3,029,951 $508,693 1,809,171 $1.96 1,015,844 53.38% [13][14]
2004 $6,844,686 $5,969,844 $874,872 2,001,287 $3.42 894,591 45.12% [15][14]
2008 $10,682,904 $8,150,399 $2,532,505 2,557,269 $4.18 953,777 40.59% [16][14]
2012 $13,631,864 $10,868,158 $2,763,706 2,447,369 $5.57 1,298,174 54.37% [17][18]
2015 $18,987,748 $10,522,827 $8,464,921 2,622,775 $7.24 1,495,404 57.02% [19][18]
2019 $24,417,459 $15,292,388 $9,125,071 2,824,309 $8.65 1,906,366 67.50% [20][18]

Candidates per election

Total candidates in Alberta elections 2001–2019
Year200120042008201220152019
Total candidates 318450407429398492
Electoral divisions 838383878787
Alberta Advantage 0000028
Alberta Alliance 0830000
Alberta First 1600010
Alberta Party 041383587
Communist 222224
Evergreen 0002500
Freedom 0000024
Greens 10497902432
Independence 0000063
Independent 29107121425
Liberal 838282875651
New Democrat 838383878787
Progressive Conservative 83838387871
Reform 000001
Separation 0121100
Pro-Life[lower-alpha 1] 12428361
United Conservative 0000087
Wildrose 006187861
Source [21][22][23][24][25][20]

List of chief electoral officers

  • Glen Resler (current)
  • O. Brian Fjeldheim (December 2009 - April 2013)
  • Lorne R. Gibson (June 2006 - March 2009)
  • O. Brian Fjeldheim (October 1998 - November 2005)
  • Dermot F. Whelan (September 1994 - March 1998)
  • Patrick D. Ledgerwood (August 1985 - June 1994)
  • Kenneth A. Wark (September 1977 - August 1985)

List of deputy chief electoral officers

  • Pamela Renwick (current)
  • Drew Westwater
  • Lori Mckee-Jeske
  • Bill Sage

See also

Notes and references

  1. ↑ Renamed from Social Credit in 2016
  1. ↑ Elections Alberta website
  2. ↑ Annual Report 2013
  3. ↑ Election Act (2000)
  4. ↑ Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act (2000)
  5. ↑ "Unknown" (PDF). www.assembly.ab.ca.
  6. ↑ Elections Act 2000
  7. ↑ Elections Alberta Vision, Mission, Mandate website
  8. ↑ "Electoral Boundaries Commission". 2012-02-04. Archived from the original on 2012-02-04. Retrieved 2019-10-15.
  9. ↑ "Bill 7 would allow for early appointment of Electoral Boundaries Commission".
  10. ↑ Elections Alberta Senate Nominations report 2004
  11. ↑ Constitutions Act, 1867 to 1982, Section IV, Article 23
  12. ↑ Alberta Senate Nominee Election Report 2012
  13. ↑ 2004 Elections Report
  14. 1 2 3 Summary of Ballots Cast and Voter Turnout, Elections Alberta
  15. ↑ 2004 General Election Report
  16. ↑ FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
  17. ↑ Election Expenses – Fees and Associated Costs
  18. 1 2 3 "Reports".
  19. ↑ "Reports".
  20. 1 2 2019 GENERAL ELECTION
  21. ↑ 2001 Election Report
  22. ↑ 2004 Election Report
  23. ↑ 2008 Election Report
  24. ↑ 2012 Election Report
  25. ↑ Elections Alberta, Summary of Results
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