Alberta Voters Reject Independence Move in Referendum

CBC projected early on Oct. 20 that voters in Alberta had rejected a proposal to start a legal process toward separation from Canada.

With more than 1 million votes counted, about 76% supported remaining in Canada, while about 23% voted in favor of beginning a process that could lead to separation, according to the projection The Guardian. About one-third of ballots had been counted at that point.

The separation question was one of 10 questions put to voters on Monday, Oct. 19. It asked whether Alberta should remain in Canada or begin a legal process that could lead to a second vote. The vote was not a direct decision on independence. A vote in favor would have set the province on a path toward a future vote on separation.

The other questions covered immigration, health care, education and the province's constitutional powers. Elections Alberta said the remaining results could take days to count. Delays at roughly 100 of 1,400 polling stations pushed results back by more than two hours.

Roughly 43% of eligible voters, or 1.3 million people, had cast ballots before Monday through advance voting and mail-in ballots, according to Elections Alberta data.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said publicly she will vote to remain in Canada but will not require elected members of her party to do the same. Prime Minister Mark Carney said "A vote against Canada is a dangerous bluff that will lead to years of deep uncertainty and lost opportunities for Albertans and Canadians." Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, whose parliamentary seat is in Alberta, told supporters that Albertans were not "quitters."

Elections Alberta said results for the Oct. 19 referendum will be added to its Referendum Results page following the release of official results.