Eligibility to Vote
ELIGIBILITY TO VOTE
Local Authorities Election Act (s. 47, 48, 53)
A person is eligible to vote if they meet ALL of the following criteria:
- Is at least 18 years old
- Canadian citizen
- Resides in Alberta and is a resident of the County AND the Division on election day
- Acceptable voter identification
- Have not voted before in this election
Are listed on the elector register and/or sign a declaration that qualifications are met
Note:
It is the voter’s responsibility to ensure they are eligible.
Rules of Residence
A person’s place of residence is governed as follows:
- A person may be a resident of only one place at a time
- If a person has more than one residence in Alberta, that person shall designate one place of residence as the person’s place of residence
- The residence of a person is the place where the person lives and sleeps and when absent, intends to return
- A person does not lose their residence by leaving the person’s home temporarily
- A student who attends an educational institution and has family members who are resident in the municipality is deemed to reside with those family members
- If a person leaves the area with the intent of making their residence elsewhere, the person loses the person’s residence within the area
A person shall designate the person’s place of residence in accordance with the following:
- The address shown on the person’s driver’s license issued by the Government of Alberta or an identification card issued by the Government of Alberta
- The address to which the person’s income tax correspondence is addressed and delivered
- The address to which the person’s mail is addressed and delivered
- A person who is a resident of a public or separate school division under the Education Act is deemed to be a resident of that respective division
Note:
- Residency is self-declared.
- Voters must be listed on the elector register.
- If not on the elector register, the voter must sign Form 13 Elector Register to be eligible to vote.
- All voters must complete Form 13 Elector Register IF there is a school board election at the same voting station.
Permanent Electors Register
Municipalities must prepare a permanent electors register of residents in the municipality who are eligible to vote.
Note: This is a new requirement for 2025 under the Local Authorities Election Act.
Proof of Elector Eligibility
Every person attending a voting station for the purpose of voting must be permitted to vote if:
- The person is named on the permanent electors register, and
- Produces one piece of identification issued by a Canadian government, whether federal, provincial or local, or an agency of that government, that contains a PHOTOGRAPH of the person.
OR
- The person makes a statement that the person is eligible to vote as an elector in the presence of an officer at the voting station in the prescribed form (Form 13), and
- Validates the person’s identity and address of the person’s residence.
Validating a Person’s Identity and Address
A person’s identity and address can be validated by producing one of the following:
- One piece of identification issued by a Canadian government, whether federal, provincial or local, or an agency of that government, that contains a photograph of the person, the person’s name and the address of the person’s residence; or
- One piece of identification authorized by the Chief Electoral Officer under the Election Act that establishes the person’s name and current address; or
- One piece of other acceptable ordered by the Minister.
Vouching
If the voter does not have acceptable Voter ID with their current address, they may have another voter vouch for them.
That person (the voucher) must:
- Be eligible to vote,
- Have acceptable Voter ID,
- Be listed on the permanent electors register, and
- At the voting station, complete Form 14 Statement of Voucher.
Form 14 Statement of Voucher sets out that the voucher:
- Knows the person,
- Knows the person resides at the address indicated on the statement, and
- Has not been vouched for themselves.
Note:
- A voucher may only vouch for more that one person, if the people they are vouching for live in the same residence (one household maximum).
- Scrutineers are prohibited from vouching.
Contact Us
County of Grande Prairie Election Team
Administration Building
10001 - 84 Avenue
Clairmont, AB
T8X 5B2
Phone: 780-532-9842 x 3393
Fax: 780-539-9880
Email: election@countygp.ab.ca
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