NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi, image via albertandp.ca
Voters in three Alberta ridings head to the polls June 23 to choose new MLAs amid shifting political dynamics.
Some Albertans will be heading to the polls in three provincial ridings this summer. Elections Alberta has set byelections for June 23 in three provincial ridings currently without representation.
Voters in Edmonton Ellerslie, Edmonton Strathcona, and Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills will choose new members to be their voices in the provincial legislature. The seats have been vacant since earlier this year, and the byelections mark an important political moment for both the governing United Conservative Party and the opposition New Democrats.
Much of the attention is focused on Edmonton Strathcona, where NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi is vying for the seat previously held by former party leader Rachel Notley. Without a seat in the legislature, Nenshi currently leads the NDP from outside the chamber and is unable to take part in question period or committee work. A win would allow him to take a formal role in legislative proceedings as the official Opposition leader.
Elections Alberta confirms all returning officers and election clerks have been appointed and are ready to oversee voting. Candidate nominations are now open and will close on June 5. Advance voting begins June 17 and runs through June 21, with Election Day scheduled for June 23. All voting stations will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. election day.
Eligible voters must be Canadian citizens aged 18 or older who are ordinarily residents of one of the three ridings. Voters may register online until June 11 or in person until June 14. Those already registered at their current address do not need to register again. Voter ID rules remain in place, with more than 50 forms of acceptable identification authorized by the Chief Electoral Officer.
The latest general election in 2023 saw voter turnout ranging from 55.9 per cent in Edmonton Ellerslie to 63.8 per cent in Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills. Elections Alberta says unofficial results will be released after polls close on June 23, with official results scheduled for announcement on July 3.
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