Do we stay or go?
asserted
we → stay → ?
At the crux of it, that’s the question Albertans have been grappling with for much of 2026 and soon, they will learn how their friends and neighbours feel.
asserted
friends → ’ → 2026
The historic Alberta referendum asks the province’s voters 10 questions that could change the course of not just the Prairie province, but also Canada.
uncertain
that → ask → province
While a focus of the Oct. 19 date has been on the question of whether Alberta should hold a second, binding referendum on separating from Canada, there are nine other questions Premier Danielle Smith is putting to residents.
asserted
Smith → hold → residents
The vote, announced Feb. 19, initially contained nine questions to do with immigration and possible changes to Canada’s Constitution.
asserted
vote → announce → Constitution
Then on May 21, Smith announced a 10th question on separation was being added.
uncertain
question → announce → separation
How do I watch the results?
asserted
I → watch → results
Global News will have in-depth, up-to-the-minute team coverage from across Alberta on both broadcast and streaming online.
asserted
News → have → broadcast
Anchors Dallas Flexhaug and Carole Anne Devaney will be joined by veteran political reporter and Ottawa bureau chief David Akin for results analysis, along with insights from a political panel hosted by anchor Blake Lough.
asserted
Flexhaug → join → Lough
Reporters on the ground in several Alberta communities will also be providing updates and interviews.
asserted
Reporters → provide → updates
From 8 p.m. MT to midnight, our Decision Alberta Referendum 2026 coverage will air online at the top of this post, as well as on YouTube and our Global TV app that is available on streaming services Prime Video, Apple TV, Roku, and select smart TVs.
asserted
that → air → services
Get breaking National news
Starting at 9 p.m., simultaneous coverage will also begin airing live on all Global News stations in Alberta.
asserted
coverage → get → Alberta
How do I vote?
asserted
I → vote → ?
Over 1,400 polling stations will be open Monday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
However, those still in line at 8 p.m. are asked to remain there, as you will be allowed to vote.
asserted
you → ask → p.m.
While voters could cast their ballot at any advance voting location in their electoral division, on election day, you must vote at your assigned voting location in your electoral division.
uncertain
you → cast → division
Electors cannot vote outside their electoral division.
asserted
Electors → vote → division
Voters can search on Elections Alberta’s website to find out where their polling station is.
asserted
station → search → website
Elections Alberta encourages voters to read and familiarize themselves with all 10 questions (which can be reviewed here) before reaching the ballot box.
asserted
which → encourage → box
You can mark some of them, all of them or none of them — your choice.
asserted
You → mark → them
The ballots will go into separate boxes to make it easier to count them, and to lessen the chances of a mistake spoiling one long ballot.
asserted
mistake → go → ballot
Elections Alberta is expecting a record turnout, between 80 and 85 per cent of the province’s nearly three million electors.
asserted
Alberta → expect → electors
You have as much time as you want to fill in the ballots, but officials estimate it’ll take most people about two minutes.
asserted
it → have → minutes
Can I vote during work hours?
asserted
I → vote → hours
The Election Act requires employers to provide employees with paid time off (three consecutive, non-work hours) to vote during either one of the advance voting days or on Oct. 19.
asserted
Act → require → Oct.
Employers are not allowed to penalize staff for taking time to vote.
asserted
Employers → allow → time
Elections Alberta notes that the employer retains the right to determine when to give the employee time off — whether it was on one of the days of advance voting or on Election Day.
asserted
it → note → Day
What identification is needed?
asserted
identification → need → ?
You’ll need one government-issued ID with your correct name, current address and photo, such as a driver’s licence.
asserted
You → need → licence
You can use two pieces of ID that both have your full name, with one showing your current address.
asserted
one → use → address
There are 50 forms of acceptable ID listed on Elections Alberta’s website that can be one of those two pieces, from a library card or a hunting licence to a bank statement or vehicle registration.
asserted
that → be → statement
Elections Alberta says it will accept expired forms of ID, including a certificate of Indian Status Card, provided it still has the correct name.
asserted
it → say → name
Another option, in special circumstances, is to bring an attestation form signed by an authorized person such as a First Nation band manager or a student housing staffer.
asserted
option → bring → manager
The provincial agency said your “Where to Vote” card is not required to vote and cannot be used as identification, but it will speed up the voting process.
asserted
it → say → process
How long before I know the results?
asserted
I → know → results
By law, the votes need to be counted by hand within 48 hours.
asserted
votes → need → hours
Question 10 — about separation — will be counted first.
asserted
Question → count → separation
Officials say early results are to be released sometime after 8 p.m. Monday — but only once the final ballot is cast and all polling stations are closed — with the final count announced in the early hours Tuesday.
asserted
count → say → hours
GlobalNews.ca staff will be working overnight to bring you the latest results as they are released.
asserted
they → work → results
The results of the other nine questions should be completed and announced by Wednesday.
asserted
results → complete → Wednesday
Those ballots will be counted in order from question one to nine.
asserted
ballots → count → nine
…and 1 more, not listed.
The Aporia
