Volunteer as a Scrutineer

Scrutineers represent candidates at voting locations, to ensure fairness and transparency; and, to observe election procedures and the counting of ballots. Contact a political party of your choice to volunteer. Click here for political party contact information.

Scrutineers must:  

• Be an elector;
• Be appointed by the Candidate on the Appointment of Scrutineer form;
• Take an Oath of Secrecy; and
• Follow the Code of Conduct.

To ensure all Scrutineers are an effective part of the voting process, Scrutineers are encouraged to read the Guide for Scrutineers prior to attending a voting location.

Additional Information for Scrutineers

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• Scrutineer's Code of Conduct

  As a Scrutineer I shall:

  • Comply with the legislation and the Code of Conduct;
  • Present a properly completed Appointment of Scrutineer identifying all voting places I will attend;
  • Complete an Oath of Secrecy before the Site Supervisor in charge of the voting place to which I have been assigned;
  • Familiarize myself with my rights and responsibilities under the law and act accordingly, after reading the Guide for Scrutineers;
  • Perform my duties with honesty and integrity and in a manner that is helpful, respectful, and courteous; and
  • Be guided at all times by the values of respect, integrity, and professionalism when dealing with members of the public, electors, election officers, colleagues, and all election stakeholders.

  As a Scrutineer, I shall not:

  • Engage in any political campaigning or promotion for or against a candidate or political party while performing my duties at a voting place;
  • Unduly interrupt the voting process or the orderly conduct of the election;
  • Make or accept cell phone calls in the voting place;
  • Engage in harassing[1] or discriminatory[2] behaviour; or
  • Make abusive, derisive, threatening, insulting, offensive, or provocative statements or gestures to or about another person.

  A Scrutineer who fails to comply with this Code of Conduct will receive a written warning concerning his or her actions.

  A Scrutineer will be removed from the voting place if, in the opinion of the Site Supervisor, the Scrutineer fails to comply with the Code of Conduct after receiving such a warning.

  [1]Harassment is any conduct by an individual that is directed at and offensive to another person in the voting place, and that the individual knows or ought reasonably to know would cause offence or harm. It comprises any objectionable act, comment or display that demeans, belittles, or causes personal humiliation or embarrassment, or any act of intimidation or threat.

  [2]Discrimination involves treating someone differently or unfairly because of a personal characteristic or distinction.

• Observing Election Procedures

  Scrutineers may arrive up to 30 minutes before a voting location opens; or, at any time before the voting location closes. The Scrutineer must provide their completed appointment form to the Site Supervisor, at the correct voting place, to be granted entry.

  On approval of entry, the Site Supervisor will first confirm that the Scrutineer understands the rules established in the Scrutineer Code of Conduct and have the Scrutineer take the Oath of Secrecy.

  Scrutineers may:

  • Verify the ballot box is empty prior to the voting location opens;
  • Observe the election process;
  • Record elector sequence numbers on Election Day;
  • View the “Record of Electors Who Have Voted” at the end of each advance voting day, or per hour on Election Day;
  • View the voting record, at a time that the election officers are not processing voters;
  • Challenge an elector if the Scrutineer believes the elector is not eligible to vote;
  • Use cell phones, tablets, or laptops while observing the election process, if:
    • No audio or video recording occurs;
    • No pictures are taken;
    • No phone calls take place; and
    • No audible sounds are played.

  If concerns arise, Scrutineers may report their concerns to the Site Supervisor. If the supervisor is unable to resolve the concern, the Scrutineer may escalate their concerns to their candidate, who can address it with the Returning Officer.

  Scrutineers should not disturb the voting process to share their concerns.

• Observing the Count of Ballots

  Election Day Locations

  Scrutineers must arrive at their assigned voting place before it is closed and secured for the count. Any scrutineers that have not already done so will be required to sign the Code of Conduct and take the Oath of Secrecy.

  After the final electors have voted and the voting place is closed, the election officers will prepare for the count. Upon request, election officers can provide the scrutineer with a Tally Sheet to record the unofficial count. The election officers will then proceed to open the ballot box and count the ballots cast for each candidate.

  During this process, scrutineers may request to view, but not touch, any ballot that they wish to see. Scrutineers may also object to any decision made on how a ballot is cast. Each objection will be noted on the Notes of Objection form.

  NOTE: The Voting Officer has the final say on how a ballot is cast during this count.

  When all of the Ballots Counted for Candidate Envelopes have been sealed and placed in the large Valid Ballot Envelope, scrutineers in attendance may sign across the Valid Ballot Envelope flap before it is sealed in the ballot box for delivery to the Returning Officer. Scrutineers may also sign across the envelopes and flaps of the Unused Ballot Envelope, the Rejected Ballot Envelope, the Spoiled Ballot Envelope and the Declined Ballot Envelope.

  Upon completion of the unofficial count, scrutineers may request a copy of the Statement of Vote, which is a record of the unofficial count.

  Special Ballot & Mobile Vote Locations

  The unofficial count for special ballots cast in the returning office will be counted at the returning office on election night. Mobile vote ballots will be counted at a location specified by the returning officer.

  Scrutineers must arrive at either the returning office or assigned location where mobile votes will be counted by 7:30 pm. Once voting places close at 8:00 pm and the unofficial count begins, only those present in the returning office or voting place will be permitted to observe the unofficial count. Any scrutineers that have not already done so will be required to sign the Code of Conduct and take the Oath of Secrecy.

  At the close of voting on election night, the mobile vote teams and returning office staff will begin to count the mobile vote ballots and special ballots cast in the returning office. Upon request, election officers can provide the scrutineer with a Tally Sheet to record the unofficial count. The election officers will then proceed to open the ballot boxes and count the ballots cast for each candidate.

  During this process, Scrutineers may request to view, but not touch, any ballot that they wish to see. Scrutineers may also object to any decision made on how a ballot is cast. Each objection will be noted on the Notes of Objection form.

  NOTE: The Voting Officer has the final say on how a ballot is cast during this count.

  When all of the Ballots Counted for Candidate Envelopes have been sealed and placed in the large Valid Ballot Envelope, scrutineers in attendance may sign across the Valid Ballot Envelope flap before it is sealed in the ballot box for delivery to the Returning Officer. Scrutineers may also sign across the envelopes and flaps of the Unused Ballot Envelope, the Rejected Ballot Envelope, the Spoiled Ballot Envelope and the Declined Ballot Envelope.

  Upon completion of the unofficial count, scrutineers may request a copy of the Statement of Vote, which is a record of the unofficial count.

  Advance Vote Locations

  The unofficial count for advance vote locations will be completed at the returning office on election night.

  For advance vote locations that used tabulators, the IT Support Staff in the returning office will power on the tabulators at approximately 7:45 pm and generate a results tape after voting places close at 8:00 pm. The results will generate for each of the 87 electoral divisions in Alberta.

  As the results are printing, returning office staff will open the Unread Ballots Envelope for one voting location at a time and sort ballots into electoral divisions and record the candidate votes for the applicable electoral divisions. After the results are printed, the results tape will be removed from the tabulator and a Statement of Vote for each electoral division completed. For locations that used two tabulators, results will be consolidated for the voting place.

  Scrutineers may request a copy of the results tape from the tabulators and the returning office staff will generate a second tape.

  When all results tapes have been printed and results are reported, the tabulators will be powered down. The returning office staff will place the tabulator results tapes, Unread Ballot Envelopes, and Statement of Vote into the Advance Vote Official Verification box. The backup USB stick from each tabulator will be removed and placed into an envelope and sealed. The sealed envelope containing the USB stick will then be placed into the Advance Vote Official Verification box and the box sealed. The box will be stored securely until it is picked up the following day to be transported back to the Elections Alberta Headquarters in Edmonton for the official count.