{"title":"2026 Alberta Referendum: All 10 Questions \u0026 Demographic Vote Anatomy","route":"Business-and-Economics/Law-and-Policy/Public-Policy/index.html","paperRoute":"Business-and-Economics/Law-and-Policy/Public-Policy/Paper/index.html","date":"2026-10-19","summary":{"questions":10,"nonConstitutionalPassed":5,"constitutionalPassed":0,"q10RemainVotes":1551868,"q10Option2Votes":518766,"q10TotalVotes":2070634,"q10RemainPct":74.95,"q10Option2Pct":25.05,"directIndependencePct":18.0},"questions":[{"number":1,"category":"Non-constitutional · Immigration \u0026 employment","shortTitle":"Provincial control of immigration \u0026 job priority","prompt":"Support Alberta taking increased control over immigration to decrease levels, prioritize economic migration, and give Albertans first priority on new jobs?","forVotes":1093541,"againstVotes":907731,"forPct":54.64,"againstPct":45.36,"outcome":"Passed (non-binding)"},{"number":2,"category":"Non-constitutional · Social program eligibility","shortTitle":"Restrict provincial programs to citizens/PR/approved status","prompt":"Mandate that only Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and individuals with Alberta-approved status qualify for provincially funded health, education, and social services?","forVotes":1032950,"againstVotes":941379,"forPct":52.32,"againstPct":47.68,"outcome":"Passed (non-binding)"},{"number":3,"category":"Non-constitutional · Residency waiting period","shortTitle":"12-month residency wait for non-permanent residents","prompt":"Require individuals with non-permanent legal immigration status to reside in Alberta at least 12 months before qualifying for provincially funded social support?","forVotes":1053247,"againstVotes":932163,"forPct":53.05,"againstPct":46.95,"outcome":"Passed (non-binding)"},{"number":4,"category":"Non-constitutional · Healthcare \u0026 school fees","shortTitle":"Healthcare \u0026 education fee/premium for non-permanent status","prompt":"Charge a reasonable fee or premium to individuals with non-permanent immigration status for their and their family's use of healthcare and education?","forVotes":1007376,"againstVotes":919120,"forPct":52.29,"againstPct":47.71,"outcome":"Passed (non-binding)"},{"number":5,"category":"Non-constitutional · Election law","shortTitle":"Proof of citizenship required to vote","prompt":"Require individuals to provide proof of citizenship (passport, birth certificate, or citizenship card) to vote in an Alberta provincial election?","forVotes":1083647,"againstVotes":730033,"forPct":59.75,"againstPct":40.25,"outcome":"Passed (non-binding)"},{"number":6,"category":"Constitutional amendment · Judiciary","shortTitle":"Provincial selection of King's Bench \u0026 Appeal judges","prompt":"Work with willing provinces to amend the Constitution so provincial governments, not Ottawa, select King's Bench and Appeal court justices?","forVotes":832386,"againstVotes":918241,"forPct":47.55,"againstPct":52.45,"outcome":"Rejected"},{"number":7,"category":"Constitutional amendment · Parliament","shortTitle":"Abolish the unelected federal Senate","prompt":"Work with willing provinces to amend the Canadian Constitution to abolish the unelected federal Senate?","forVotes":898093,"againstVotes":926950,"forPct":49.21,"againstPct":50.79,"outcome":"Rejected"},{"number":8,"category":"Constitutional amendment · Fiscal federalism","shortTitle":"Opt out of federal social programs with full funding","prompt":"Amend the Constitution to allow provinces to opt out of federal programs in health, education, and social services without losing associated federal funding?","forVotes":752760,"againstVotes":855376,"forPct":46.81,"againstPct":53.19,"outcome":"Rejected"},{"number":9,"category":"Constitutional amendment · Paramountcy","shortTitle":"Provincial law priority over conflicting federal law","prompt":"Amend the Constitution to give provincial laws in provincial or shared jurisdiction priority over conflicting federal laws?","forVotes":785995,"againstVotes":792812,"forPct":49.78,"againstPct":50.22,"outcome":"Rejected"},{"number":10,"category":"Independence / Sovereignty process","shortTitle":"Remain in Canada vs. commence binding separation referendum","prompt":"Should Alberta remain a province of Canada (Option 1), or should the Government of Alberta commence the legal process to hold a binding referendum on separating from Canada (Option 2)?","forVotes":1551868,"againstVotes":518766,"forPct":74.95,"againstPct":25.05,"outcome":"Remain won 74.95% – 25.05%"}],"demographics":[{"dimension":"Official Count","group":"All Alberta Ballots (Oct 19)","remainPct":75.0,"option2Pct":25.0,"otherPct":0.0,"turnoutOrShare":"2,070,634 ballots (99.98% rpt)","source":"Elections Alberta"},{"dimension":"Region","group":"Edmonton Metro","remainPct":77.0,"option2Pct":17.0,"otherPct":6.0,"turnoutOrShare":"41% say best days ahead","source":"Abacus Data (Oct 2026)"},{"dimension":"Region","group":"Calgary Metro","remainPct":75.0,"option2Pct":19.0,"otherPct":6.0,"turnoutOrShare":"48% say best days ahead","source":"Abacus Data (Oct 2026)"},{"dimension":"Region","group":"Small Cities \u0026 Suburbs","remainPct":62.0,"option2Pct":29.0,"otherPct":9.0,"turnoutOrShare":"Red Deer / Lethbridge / Airdrie","source":"Abacus Data (Oct 2026)"},{"dimension":"Region","group":"Rural Alberta","remainPct":57.0,"option2Pct":35.0,"otherPct":8.0,"turnoutOrShare":"52% say best days ahead","source":"Abacus Data (Oct 2026)"},{"dimension":"Provincial Party","group":"Alberta NDP Voters","remainPct":93.0,"option2Pct":4.0,"otherPct":3.0,"turnoutOrShare":"84% strong attachment to Canada","source":"Abacus Data (Oct 2026)"},{"dimension":"Provincial Party","group":"United Conservative (UCP) Voters","remainPct":44.0,"option2Pct":52.0,"otherPct":4.0,"turnoutOrShare":"77% of Option 2 pool is UCP","source":"Abacus Data (Oct 2026)"},{"dimension":"2025 Federal Vote","group":"Federal Liberal Voters","remainPct":95.0,"option2Pct":5.0,"otherPct":0.0,"turnoutOrShare":"Likely voters","source":"Research Co. (Oct 18, 2026)"},{"dimension":"2025 Federal Vote","group":"Federal NDP Voters","remainPct":82.0,"option2Pct":18.0,"otherPct":0.0,"turnoutOrShare":"Likely voters","source":"Research Co. (Oct 18, 2026)"},{"dimension":"2025 Federal Vote","group":"Federal Conservative Voters","remainPct":65.0,"option2Pct":35.0,"otherPct":0.0,"turnoutOrShare":"Likely voters","source":"Research Co. (Oct 18, 2026)"},{"dimension":"Age \u0026 Turnout","group":"Ages 18–34 (Under 30 turnout 38%)","remainPct":64.0,"option2Pct":24.0,"otherPct":12.0,"turnoutOrShare":"21% open to US statehood","source":"Abacus / Research Co."},{"dimension":"Age \u0026 Turnout","group":"Ages 35–54","remainPct":67.0,"option2Pct":25.0,"otherPct":8.0,"turnoutOrShare":"15% open to US statehood","source":"Abacus / Research Co."},{"dimension":"Age \u0026 Turnout","group":"Ages 55+ (60+ definite turnout 85%)","remainPct":73.0,"option2Pct":23.0,"otherPct":4.0,"turnoutOrShare":"6% open to US statehood; 71% dual attachment","source":"Abacus / Research Co."},{"dimension":"Voting Channel","group":"Early Mail-In Ballots (11% of electorate)","remainPct":93.0,"option2Pct":7.0,"otherPct":0.0,"turnoutOrShare":"84% of Remain voters 100% certain","source":"Abacus Data (Oct 2026)"}],"motives":{"remain":[{"reason":"Proud to be Canadian \u0026 want Alberta to stay","pct":39},{"reason":"Object to the referendum happening at all","pct":29},{"reason":"Separation is too economically risky or costly","pct":16},{"reason":"Frustrated with Ottawa, but separation goes too far","pct":13},{"reason":"Other / unsure","pct":3}],"option2":[{"reason":"Want Alberta to become an independent country","pct":32},{"reason":"Negotiate a better deal within Canada","pct":23},{"reason":"Believe Albertans deserve a direct binding vote","pct":22},{"reason":"Send Ottawa a message without leaving","pct":19},{"reason":"Other / unsure","pct":4}]}}