Alberta’s historic referendum has entered its final 24 hours. Advance voting closed on Saturday night after five days of heavy turnout, and with more than a million ballots already cast by mail and at advance polls, Albertans have one last chance to vote on Monday — a decision that will define the province’s dealings with Ottawa for years.
Voting places open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mountain Time, and anyone still in line at closing will be allowed to vote. The hand count begins the moment polls close, with Question 10 — the separation question — tallied first, a process explained in our voter’s guide to referendum night.
Elections Alberta says turnout could reach 80 to 85 per cent, after nearly 175,000 voters cast ballots on the first day of advance voting alone. Each of the ten questions sits on its own colour-coded ballot, and all results are non-binding — though both the province and Ottawa are treating them as a political mandate. Final polls point to a decisive remain victory, with about seven in ten Albertans saying they will vote to stay in Canada.
Smith votes to stay, urges yes on the other nine
Premier Danielle Smith cast her advance ballot on Wednesday for Option 1 — remaining in Canada — while urging Albertans to vote yes on the other nine questions as leverage in negotiations with Ottawa. She has said there would be no second referendum as long as she is premier. On the other side, Mark Carney’s message to a Calgary crowd — vote like Canada depends on it — drew thousands to the BMO Centre, with a second rally following in Edmonton.
What to watch when the polls close
Unofficial results are expected within 48 hours of Monday’s close, with official figures announced on October 29. The real contest may be on the other nine ballots: on immigration, provincial services and constitutional powers — the questions Smith’s government cares about most. A strong yes on those, paired with a remain win on Question 10, would hand Edmonton a powerful bargaining position. Voters seeking the official question wording and voting-place information should check Elections Alberta.
