More than 3,000 mail-in ballots submitted for Alberta’s upcoming referendum have been flagged as invalid because of errors or missing information, prompting election officials to remind voters to carefully follow the instructions that accompany their special-ballot packages. The ballots are part of a record-setting wave of mail-in voting ahead of the Oct. 19 referendum. Elections Alberta has received hundreds of thousands of special-ballot applications, creating a significant processing workload for election officials in the final weeks before voting day. Officials say the problems identified so far include missing declaration forms, incomplete information and issues with identification documents. Some voters may still be able to correct the problems and have their ballots accepted, depending on the circumstances and whether the required information can be provided before the deadline. A special ballot is not automatically counted simply because it has been returned. Election officials must first verify that the voter is eligible, that the required declaration has been completed and that the identification information meets the rules. The ballot then goes through the required verification process before it can be included in the official count. The situation is particularly important because of the scale of mail-in voting this year. Elections Alberta approved more than 652,000 special-ballot packages, following more than 658,000 applications. Thousands of applications were rejected before ballots were issued because applicants did not meet eligibility requirements or submitted duplicate requests or incorrect information. The large number of special ballots means election officials are dealing with significantly more paperwork and verification than during a typical election. Officials must check the returned packages while also ensuring that voters cannot cast more than one ballot. Voters who receive a special-ballot package are required to follow the instructions carefully. This includes completing the declaration, signing where required and providing acceptable identification. Identification copies must be sufficiently clear for officials to confirm the voter’s identity and Alberta address. A missing signature or incomplete declaration can create a problem even when the voter is otherwise eligible. Similarly, unclear or unacceptable identification can prevent officials from immediately validating a returned ballot. For voters who have already mailed their ballots, the key issue is whether Elections Alberta receives and validates the package before the deadline. The deadline for completed special ballots to arrive is 5 p.m. on Oct. 16, three days before referendum day. Election officials have encouraged voters not to wait until the final day to mail their ballots. Allowing additional delivery time is particularly important for voters sending packages through regular mail. Albertans who have requested a special ballot but are concerned about whether it will arrive in time may have the option of voting in person, provided their special ballot has not already been accepted. Elections Alberta maintains records of special-ballot activity to help prevent duplicate voting. Advance voting is scheduled to take place from Oct. 13 through Oct. 17. Voters can also cast their ballots at designated voting locations on referendum day, Oct. 19. The referendum has attracted considerable attention because of questions surrounding Alberta’s future relationship with Canada. One of the questions asks voters whether Alberta should remain a part of Canada, while another asks whether the provincial government should begin a process that could eventually lead to a second, binding referendum on separation. A vote in favour of beginning that process would not immediately make Alberta an independent country. Further legal and political steps would be required before any change to Alberta’s constitutional status could take place. The mail-in ballot issue comes at a time when both supporters and opponents of the referendum are encouraging Albertans to participate. The large number of special-ballot requests indicates that many voters have chosen to cast their ballots before referendum day rather than attend a polling station in person. Election officials are also preparing for the logistical demands of referendum day itself. Tens of thousands of election workers are required across the province to operate voting locations, assist voters, count ballots and carry out other election-related duties. For voters using a special ballot, officials say the safest approach is to review the entire package before sending it back. Every required form should be completed, signatures should be provided where requested and identification should be clear and valid. The discovery of thousands of problematic ballots does not mean those votes have necessarily been permanently lost. In many cases, voters may still have an opportunity to resolve an issue if election officials contact them or if they take action within the permitted timeframe. With the voting deadline approaching rapidly, Elections Alberta is urging anyone who has requested a mail-in ballot to check the instructions carefully and act quickly if they believe there could be a problem. The final count will depend on which returned ballots successfully pass the verification process. With hundreds of thousands of special ballots being processed, election officials face the challenge of ensuring that every eligible Albertan has a fair opportunity to have their vote counted while maintaining the safeguards designed to protect the integrity of the referendum.