Record unofficial count of ballots complete after referendum: Elections Alberta

Elections Alberta says it has completed an unofficial hand-count of ballots submitted in the Oct. 19 referendum.

The agency says it has counted more than 20 million ballots in the referendum, which would be the highest number cast in any Canadian electoral event.

The unofficial results show a majority of Albertans voted "yes" on questions dealing with immigration, including whether the province should have more control over the newcomer population, but the margins are tight.

The constitutional questions, such as the one asking Albertans for their blessing to pursue talks with other provinces on wresting power from the federal government, have received a "no" vote, again by a slim margin.

Nearly 75 per cent of Albertans have backed staying in Canada on the separation question, which was the most contested one out of the 10 that were voted on.

The agency is set to release official results of the historic vote on Thursday. 

"The unofficial count was confirmed as complete at 9:14 p.m., October 24, 2026," the agency said in a statement on Sunday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 25, 2026.

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