Writ has been issued for the Lethbridge-West By-Election

November 20, 2024

EDMONTON – Alberta’s Chief Electoral Officer, Gordon McClure, confirms a writ was issued today to administer a by-election in Electoral Division 72 – Lethbridge-West to elect a member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.

The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) has the authority, under sections 9(1) and 47(1) of the Election Act to appoint Returning Officers and Election Clerks. These officers play a vital role in the fair and impartial management of Provincial General Elections and by-elections.

“Appointments have been made for the Returning Officer and Election Clerk in Lethbridge-West and they are ready to conduct voting in the electoral division,” said CEO McClure.

ELECTION DAY IS DECEMBER 18, 2024.

Key Dates

• Candidate nominations are now open and end on November 30 at 2:00 pm.
• Tuesday, December 10 – Advance voting begins.
• Saturday, December 14 – Last day of advance voting.
• Wednesday, December 18 – Election Day. All voting places will be open from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm.
• Unofficial results will be available after voting closes on Election Day.
• Official results will be announced on December 28, at 10:00 am.

Voter Eligibility
Canadian citizens who are at least 18 years of age or older on Election Day are eligible to vote if they are an ordinary resident of Lethbridge-West. If you are unsure if you reside in Lethbridge-West, use the “Where Do I Vote” tool on the Elections Alberta website to determine your eligibility.

Voter Registration
Electors may register to vote online at voterlink.ab.ca until December 4, or by contacting Elections Alberta or the local returning office before 4:00 pm on December 7. Electors can also register to vote at any advance voting location in Lethbridge-West or at their assigned voting place on Election Day. Electors who are already registered to vote at their current address do not need to register again.

Voter Identification
To vote in the Lethbridge-West by-election, electors must prove their identity and current physical address. There are many ways to do this, including:

• Providing one piece of Government-issued photo ID, including the voter’s full name, current physical address, and a photo.
• Providing two pieces of ID, both containing the voter’s full name and one showing their current physical address.
• Having another registered elector with identification who resides in their voting area vouch for them.
• Having an authorized signatory complete an attestation form.
• More than 50 different types of identification have been authorized by the Chief Electoral Officer to be used as identification to vote. Voters may visit elections.ab.ca/voters/id-required-to-vote for a full list.

Special Ballots
Electors have 28 days to vote by Special Ballot beginning today. Special Ballots may be completed in the returning office, picked up by an elector’s designate, or sent to the elector anywhere in the world. Applications can be submitted online at elections.ab.ca. See Elections Alberta’s website for more information on deadlines for Special Ballots.

IMPORTANT: In the event of a continuing Canada Post strike, electors choosing this voting option may need to consider an alternative method to return their ballot prior to 8:00 pm on Election Day. Alternative options include a courier, dropping it off at the Lethbridge-West returning office, or dropping it off at Elections Alberta’s head office in Edmonton.

Where to Vote
Due to the Canada Post strike, Where to Vote cards will not be mailed to electors. During advance voting, voters can choose to vote at either advance voting location. On Election Day, voters must vote at their assigned voting place. Voting locations will be published on elections.ab.ca, and more information will follow on Elections Alberta’s website, social media, and local radio. Print advertisements will be published with voting locations in the Lethbridge Herald. Voters may contact Elections Alberta at 1-877-422-VOTE (8683) or the local returning office for assistance.

Electoral Division Information
There are 36,560 electors in Lethbridge-West. The percentage of voter turnout in the 2023 Provincial General Election for Lethbridge-West was 61.5% in comparison to the provincial voter turnout of 60.5%.

Returning Officer
The Returning Officer for Lethbridge-West is Stella Lukinski. The returning office can be contacted at 1.888.688.5808 or via email at ed72@elections.ab.ca.

The returning office is now open at:

Melcor Centre (Upper Level SE)
#236, 200 4th Ave S
Lethbridge, AB T1J 4C9

The returning office is open:

Weekdays from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm,
Saturdays from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, and
On voting days from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm.

Employment Opportunities
Election worker applications are now being accepted for advance vote and Election Day positions at elections.ab.ca.

For any questions regarding the Lethbridge-West by-election, visit elections.ab.ca, call 1-877-422-VOTE, or visit @ElectionsAB on social media.

Elections Alberta is an independent, non-partisan office of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta responsible for administering provincial elections, by-elections, and referenda.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Robyn Bell
Media Relations
Phone: 780.427.7191
Email: media@elections.ab.ca

Posted in: Press Releases