FORT MCMURRAY, AB — The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo has released preliminary data from the 2025 municipal election, outlining key figures and comparisons with the 2021 vote.
This year’s election, which uses hand-counted ballots under new provincial legislation, will see 42 candidates seeking seats on council. That includes two candidates for mayor, 30 for Ward 1, six for Ward 2, and two each for Wards 3 and 4. There are also 48 candidates for school trustee — 32 for the public division and 16 for the Catholic division.
RMWB Elections says 12 voting stations will be in operation across the region, supported by more than 300 election workers covering 345 shifts. The cost of the 2025 election is budgeted at $600,000, roughly double the $300,000 spent in 2021.
Advance voting ran from Oct. 3 to 17 at nine locations, with 1,806 residents casting early ballots as of Oct. 11. During the 2021 election, advance voting ran from Oct. 1 to 15 and saw 5,259 votes cast.
The municipality notes several procedural changes since the last election. All voters must now be registered with Elections Alberta, a new requirement introduced by provincial legislation in 2024. Residents who did not register in advance by Aug. 15 can still register at the polls before voting.
According to the 2021 municipal census, the RMWB had a population of 106,059. Elections Alberta estimates there are about 39,800 eligible voters in the region.
The 2021 municipal election featured 33 council candidates, 20 trustee candidates, and a voter turnout of 22.4 per cent, with 13,121 ballots cast.
More details, including voting station information and election updates, are available at rmwb.ca/election.
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