Alberta Government Introduces Bill-54, The Election Statutes Amendment Act, 2025

Alberta’s Bill 54, the **Election Statutes Amendment Act, 2025, introduced by the Justice Minister Mickey Amery, proposes several changes to the province’s election laws aimed at enhancing transparency, security, and public trust in the electoral process. The following is a breakdown of the changes proposed in the act.

• **Ban on Electronic Vote Tabulators**: The bill prohibits the use of electronic tabulators and other automated voting machines in elections, requiring manual vote counting to ensure accuracy and security.
• **Elimination of Vouching**: The practice of vouching, where one elector confirms another’s identity, age, or residence at voting stations, will be discontinued. Voters will be required to provide identification to vote, aiming to strengthen voter verification.
• **12-Hour Vote Count Requirement**: The bill mandates that vote counts be completed within 12 hours of polls closing, ensuring timely reporting of election results.
• **Lowered Threshold for Citizen Initiative Petitions**: Bill 54 reduces the signature requirements and extends the time allowed to collect signatures for citizen-initiated petitions, including those that could trigger referendums on significant issues, such as constitutional matters or separation. The referendum threshold is set at 10% of the eligible voter base.
• **Easier Recall of Elected Officials**: The bill simplifies the process to recall elected officials, including Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs). It allows a 120-day period for collecting signatures, with the requirement that the number of signatures exceeds 60% of the votes cast in the respective riding during the previous election.

These changes are presented as measures to make elections more secure and responsive to public will, though some have sparked debate, with critics arguing that banning electronic tabulators could increase costs and delay results, while supporters claim it addresses concerns about election integrity.