Closures, cancellations, insufficient ballots: Albertan First Nations raise concerns with referendum voting issues

Indigenous leaders are raising concerns after communities across Alberta experienced voting issues during the referendum, including staffing shortages, polling station closures, ballot shortages and communication breakdowns.

Last week, the advance polling station in Fort Chipewyan was abruptly closed days before referendum voting.

Residents were informed at about 6 p.m. Oct. 14, hours before voting was scheduled to begin the next morning, that the polling station had been cancelled and rescheduled for Oct. 17.

Community members who arrived to vote on Oct. 15 found the doors closed.

It was the only scheduled day of advance voting in Fort Chipewyan. Without a public announcement from Elections Alberta, voters who planned to cast ballots that day may have been unable to do so.

Four First Nation leaders in the Wood Buffalo region criticizing the situation at a news conference, calling it an act of “neglect and underfunding of voting opportunities” for Indigenous communities in northern Alberta.

Days later, more than five polling stations on reserves across Alberta reported ballot shortages as voting drew to a close on referendum day.

Fort Chipewyan Métis President Ruby Ladouceur said she was unaware of the advance poll closure until members arrived on Oct. 15 and were turned away.

She said Indigenous leaders and communities must be informed directly and promptly about issues affecting their ability to vote.

“This is not a small matter, Métis members cannot simply drive to the next polling station, when a poll closes, people lose the chance to vote.”

She said the impact extends beyond Fort Chipewyan. Many rural and remote Indigenous communities lack road access, making travel difficult and limiting voters’ options when polling stations close.

The province described the situation as complex, saying “Elections Alberta initially agreed to delay voting, out of respect for the passing of an Elder.” It said it was later informed “the voting place at Fort Chipewyan RMWB Office was not fully staffed” by the scheduled 9 a.m. opening.

The province called the incident unfortunate but said adequate training is essential.

“Without training, the elector experience would have caused confusion and led to many questions on how to receive identification and mark electors from the voting record.”

Beyond the advance voting concerns, ballot shortages on referendum day also drew criticism.

Elections Alberta reported six communities ran out of ballots near the end of voting: Whitefish, Blood Tribe (Lavern Community Hall), Samson Cree Nation, Louis Bull, Ermineskin and Calling Lake. Voting hours were extended at all six locations.

Calling Lake, the last polling station to remain open, closed at 10:59 p.m.

While additional ballots were delivered, Elections Alberta acknowledged turnout in those areas had been underestimated.

Alberta NDP MLA for Edmonton-West Henday Brooks Arcand-Paul told the Edmonton Journal that incidents like these raise questions about democratic access for First Nations voters.

Mikisew Cree First Nation Chief Melody Lepine said she was “completely appalled” by what she described as Elections Alberta’s neglect.

She said the Nation worked to provide transportation and resources for voters, only to have members turned away on their sole advance voting day.

“We expected more from Elections Alberta. This referendum is everything to us, to have these barriers continue is not acceptable,” Lepine said.

Treaty 8 Grand Chief Trevor Mercredi said he was dismayed by the “lack of process and accountability” from the province.

Mercredi said he travelled seven hours one way to vote.

“We don’t have post offices; we must use attestation forms,” he said, citing existing barriers faced by First Nations electors.

“When processes are not accommodating our people, we have to question what is going on,” Mercredi said.

Elections Alberta said it “recognizes that identification requirements may present challenges for some citizens to vote.” It said those challenges are addressed through acceptance of more than 50 forms of identification, including Métis Nation of Alberta citizenship cards, Certificates of Indian Status, First Nation membership cards, Métis settlement membership cards and Otipemisiwak Métis Government citizenship cards.

The agency said electors living on reserves or settlements may also use an attestation form in lieu of identification.

There are 24 First Nations within Treaty 8. Elections Alberta says 18 had voting opportunities during the referendum. Four First Nations did not have on-reserve voting locations: Fort Vermilion 468, Horse Lake, Swan River and Fort Smith. Some residents were required to travel hundreds of kilometres to the nearest polling station.

In Treaty 7, eight First Nations had on-reserve voting opportunities. In Treaty 6, 10 First Nations had on-reserve voting opportunities.

Asked how many polling stations had been cancelled, relocated or had their hours altered during the voting period, Elections Alberta said disruptions were minimal.

The agency said two voting locations in Athabasca closed shortly after 2 p.m. on Oct. 14 because of a wind-related power outage. Both locations were given extended hours on subsequent advance voting days.

It also said 17 of Alberta’s 311 advance voting locations opened late on the first day of advance polling because of technical issues. Elections Alberta said all were eventually opened and remained open later to make up for lost time.

According to updated statistics from Elections Alberta, 36 of Alberta’s 48 First Nations had voting opportunities during the 2026 referendum. The final number is expected to be confirmed in the official referendum report.

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