Elections Canada is presently running on a significant staffing shortage in four Alberta ridings, with hundreds of jobs remaining open with the federal election rapidly approaching. This indicates some uncertainty as to how this vacancy will affect electoral outcomes and possibly voter turnout in these ridings.
These staffing concerns are compounded by certain logistics issues, such as Canada Post’s strike disrupting the delivery of essential voting materials, including “Where to Vote” cards and mail-in ballots. In administering the byelection in Lethbridge-West, Elections Alberta seems to have moved quite aggressively to replace traditional ballot drops, and mail-in ballots with couriers and in-person drop offs.
Elections Alberta is well aware that it is recruiting approximately 20,000 people for each needed position for the provincial general election, including site supervisors, information officers, voting officers, and other essential staff to facilitate in-person voting across Alberta.
The staffing shortage of associated with logistical challenges raises significant questions about what kind of alternative plans exist to maintain the integrity and accessibility of the electoral process. Voters should be kept informed of alternative voting measures, and to ensure they plan ahead for their participation in the election.
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