Alberta Referendum Early Count: "Remain in Canada" Leads Big With 76.5%, Separation-Process Option at 23.5%
EDMONTON - Unofficial results published by Elections Alberta on the evening of October 19 showed that, as of 11:26 p.m. MDT (10:26 p.m. PDT), with results reported from 85 of the province's 87 electoral divisions and about 23.1 percent of voting places reporting, the "remain" option on Question 10 - the separation question - had 806,570 votes, or 76.5 percent, against 248,402 votes, or 23.5 percent, for commencing the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on whether Alberta should separate from Canada. Counting is continuing and the figures are unofficial and preliminary; the result on Question 10 is not binding.
The release of results was delayed. Elections Alberta rules bar publishing the results website until every voting location in the province is confirmed closed, and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) reported that 106 voting locations opened late on voting day, with the last to close - Edmonton's Westminster School - staying open until 10:00 p.m. MDT. All ballots are counted by hand, with Question 10 counted first in each location, followed by Questions 1 through 9. Counting of advance and special ballots began at 5:00 p.m.; Elections Alberta has said 837,791 advance ballots and 519,082 special ballots were cast, together 43.1 percent of votes.
Far fewer ballots have so far been counted on the other nine questions than on Question 10. In the early count, Question 1 (increased provincial control over immigration) led Yes 57.1 percent (245,219 to 184,077); Question 2 (provincially funded programs only for citizens, permanent residents and approved statuses) led Yes 55.7 percent; Question 3 (a 12-month Alberta residence requirement before non-permanent residents qualify for social supports) led Yes 56.4 percent; Question 4 (fees for health care and education for non-permanent residents) led Yes 52.7 percent; and Question 5 (proof of citizenship to vote in provincial elections) led Yes 57.2 percent. On the four constitutional questions, No led on Question 6 (provinces selecting King's Bench and Appeal Court judges) at 57.5 percent and Question 8 (opting out of federal programs with full funding) at 57.4 percent and Question 9 (provincial laws taking priority over federal laws) at 53.5 percent, while Question 7 (abolishing the Senate) stood nearly tied with Yes at 50.3 percent to No's 49.7 percent. Elections Alberta says the unofficial count must be completed within 48 hours of the close of voting locations; official results will be announced on October 29.
The referendum was called by Premier Danielle Smith, who announced the addition of Question 10 on May 21. Smith opposes separation and, according to Reuters, said during advance voting that she had voted for a united Canada, adding, "Canada can still work. We just need to make some changes." Prime Minister Mark Carney made a final appeal for unity ahead of the vote. The final pre-vote poll tracker (The Writ, updated October 17) had "remain in Canada" at about 68 percent and the separation-process option at about 26 percent.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：加拿大阿尔伯塔省省旗。图片来源：Wikimedia Commons，公共领域
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