Edmonton’s municipal election faced delays in voting and counting attributed to various factors, according to Edmonton Elections. Labour shortages, power outages, and technology issues led to extended voting hours on Monday, with results emerging close to 10:30 p.m. The counting process paused at 1 a.m. Tuesday, resuming at 9 a.m. to determine the city’s new mayor and councillors. Tim Cartmell conceded the race around 2 p.m., congratulating Andrew Knack on his election as Edmonton’s mayor.
Some voters experienced long wait times due to changes in the voting process this year, as confirmed by Edmonton Elections. Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams expressed that while many municipalities reported timely results, Edmonton Elections cited labor and technical challenges for significant delays.
Drew Westwater, a retired deputy chief electoral officer, noted the difficulty in estimating staff requirements for such a count. He acknowledged the new manual process posed challenges for local administrators who were accustomed to using voting machines.
Edmonton voter Susan Babcock lamented the shift to paper ballots, advocating for proven automated vote counting technology. Meanwhile, Coun. Michael Janz criticized the provincial government for introducing a cumbersome ballot system, causing inconvenience and additional costs for Edmontonians.
Coun. Aaron Paquette shared similar sentiments, highlighting the financial burden imposed on municipalities due to the prohibition of electronic vote tabulators by provincial legislation. Edmonton Elections reported releasing 30% of all votes on election night, with counting ongoing at the Edmonton Expo Centre the next day.
Unofficial voter turnout stood at 30.27%, with 205,758 out of 679,830 eligible voters participating, marking the lowest turnout since 2007. Edmonton Elections aimed to provide preliminary results promptly and assured the public that unofficial results would be accessible online as the ballots were counted and verified.
The 2021 civic election saw a record 236,000 voters, indicating a decline in voter engagement compared to previous years.