LetsTalkAlberta

It appears CERTAIN staff at Elections Alberta in #GP have been arbitrarily disqualifying people who are affiliated with a political party. And doing it while shortstaffed for the ballot counting. There are no restrictions for scrutineers (see pic). They are claiming it's under "the oath" but read below and send an email. FAST. You're telling me that none of the elections Alberta staff are affiliated with any political party? May want to send an email for clarification. Copy/paste below. Hurry, time is running out. Nothing changes, if nothing changes. #AlbertaIndependence ------------------------------------- Elections Alberta — Office of the Chief Electoral Officer and applicable RETURNING OFFICERS ONLY.  Any and all election clerks are to forward this to the RETURNING OFFICER Immediately. I will not accept a generic response from an Elections Clerk.  I am writing to raise a concern regarding reports that individuals are being disqualified from working as election officers in the October 2026 Alberta referendum solely because they hold membership in a registered political party. Elections Alberta’s published eligibility requirements under the Election Act do not identify ordinary political-party membership as an automatic disqualification. Furthermore, Elections Alberta’s own hiring principles state: “Applicants must not be affiliated with, or be perceived as affiliated with, any partisan organization or individual, if that affiliation compromises their ability to be, or be seen as, non-partisan in their community.” The operative wording is “if that affiliation compromises their ability”. This establishes a conditional standard, not an automatic prohibition against political-party membership. Elections Alberta’s official employment application also requires applicants to attest that they will remain impartial and non-partisan throughout their appointment. These requirements distinguish between holding a political affiliation and engaging in partisan conduct while serving as an election officer. If Elections Alberta is automatically rejecting every applicant who holds membership in a political party, without considering whether that membership compromises their ability to perform their duties impartially, such a practice appears inconsistent with its published hiring principles. I am therefore requesting written clarification of the following: Is membership in a registered political party, by itself, sufficient grounds for automatic disqualification? If so, what specific provision of the Election Act, regulation, or Elections Alberta policy authorizes this blanket exclusion? If the published hiring principles require an assessment of whether an affiliation compromises impartiality, why would ordinary party membership alone be treated as conclusive evidence of such a compromise? Are Returning Officers being instructed to automatically reject applicants who disclose political-party membership? Given that advance voting is already underway and election officers are being recruited for the October 19 referendum, I request an expedited written response. The distinction between political affiliation and impartial performance of public duties is important. Elections Alberta’s hiring decisions should reflect its published eligibility requirements and apply those standards consistently. Thank you. @ikwilson @CoryBMorgan @Martyupnorth @JonFromAlberta @United_AB_Flags @JasonLavigneAB @WScafemirror @StayFreeAlberta @echipiuk @ElectionsAB