Fact File: Checks in place to prevent non-Albertans from mailing in referendum votes

A viral post on social media claimed that non-Albertans can mail in their votes for the October 19 Alberta referendum without verification of residency. However, Elections Alberta has clarified that all special ballot applications are checked against their voter registration system to exclude fraudulent ones, and proof of ID is required to cast a ballot.

The post was shared by an X user who claimed to have registered as a voter from British Columbia and received a ballot mailed to a Vancouver address. An Alberta lawyer also shared a screenshot showing a submitted application with a Vancouver address, which was later denied. The deadline to apply for a special ballot is Friday at midnight, with over 610,000 requests already received.

Eligible voters must have a "place of ordinary residence" in Alberta, and residents who have established residency outside the province are ineligible to vote.