Edmonton’s municipal election faced delays in voting and counting due to various issues, according to Edmonton Elections. Labour shortages, power outages, and technology glitches were identified as the culprits, causing polling locations to extend hours past the original deadline to accommodate voters. The first election results were not available until close to 10:30 p.m., with counting paused at 1 a.m. and resumed at 9 a.m. on Tuesday to determine the new mayor and council members.
By 2 p.m., Tim Cartmell conceded the race, congratulating Andrew Knack, a three-term city councillor, as Edmonton’s mayor-elect. Some voters reported long wait times, attributing the delays to a new voting process introduced this year. Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams stated that while many municipalities received timely results, Edmonton Elections blamed delays on labor shortages and technical challenges. Williams emphasized the importance of following election procedures to maintain confidence in the municipal electoral process.
Drew Westwater, a retired deputy chief electoral officer at Elections Alberta, highlighted the challenge of estimating staffing needs for manual vote counts, especially for those inexperienced with manual elections. Some residents expressed disappointment in the move away from automated vote counting technology, citing concerns raised by a minority as unnecessary. Coun. Michael Janz criticized the additional costs incurred by Edmonton’s election system changes and the lengthy wait times, urging the provincial government to learn from the election’s shortcomings.
Coun. Aaron Paquette echoed Janz’s sentiments, criticizing the financial burden on municipalities due to the ban on electronic vote tabulators. Edmonton Elections reported that 30% of votes were released on election night, with counting continuing at the Edmonton Expo Centre the next day. Unofficial results, showcasing a voter turnout of 30.27%, were aimed to be released promptly. This marked the lowest voter turnout since 2007, contrasting with the record-breaking turnout in the 2021 civic election.
As the election process unfolds, Edmonton Elections strives to provide transparent and accurate results to the public.