EDMONTON — Alberta’s temporary restrictions on political parties’ access to voter information are facing a court challenge less than two weeks before the province’s October 19 referendum.

The restrictions allow Elections Alberta to give parties aggregate voter counts by voting area and municipality, rather than lists containing names, addresses, phone numbers and unique voter identification numbers. The province says the measure is temporary and expires at the end of 2026.

NDP disputes how the rules were changed

A lawyer for Alberta’s Opposition NDP argued Tuesday that the government acted beyond its authority by changing the rules through regulation instead of legislation. The party also says limiting voter-list access could weaken scrutiny of the referendum count.

A provincial lawyer rejected those arguments, saying the government had authority to make the change and characterizing the challenge as a disagreement over policy. The court has not ruled, and no hearing outcome should be inferred from either side’s submissions.

Smith promises longer-term safeguards

Premier Danielle Smith said Wednesday that the restrictions followed concerns raised after a breach involving voter information and a separatist group. She said her government plans legislation this fall to create permanent safeguards and that the temporary limits apply to every party, including the governing United Conservatives.

NDP house leader Christina Gray said her party wanted consequences for the breach, not the current restrictions, and accused the government of waiting too long to act. Smith said she hoped the NDP would support the coming bill.

Elections Alberta says voter-registration information is used to administer elections and that access is governed by provincial law. A decision in the court challenge is expected soon.

Sources: The Canadian Press via Global News, October 7; Elections Alberta voter-registration information.

Lead image: flag of Alberta via Wikimedia Commons; not a photograph of the court hearing, referendum or voter records.