Updated October 20, 2026 — Unofficial results; counting continues.
Albertans have voted by a substantial margin to remain part of Canada in preliminary returns from Monday’s ten-question provincial referendum. With approximately three-quarters of the votes counted on the separation question early Tuesday, about 76 per cent favoured remaining a province of Canada and 24 per cent supported starting the constitutional process toward a future binding separation referendum.
The ballot did not ask Albertans to declare independence immediately. It offered a choice between remaining in Canada and beginning a process toward another vote on separation. The preliminary result favours the first option.
What the results show so far
Question 10, concerning Alberta’s place in Canada, drew the most national attention. Early returns show a substantial majority favouring continued membership in Canada. The nine other questions addressed immigration, access to provincial services, voting identification, judicial appointments, the Senate and federal-provincial powers. Preliminary reporting indicates support for eight of those nine proposals, but margins and complete counts must be checked as reporting continues.
Elections Alberta is counting ballots by hand and reporting results by question and electoral division. The agency has cautioned that its figures are unofficial until October 29. Voting-place delays on Monday also postponed the release of initial results.
Which proposals require legislation?
Questions 1 through 5 and Question 10 are non-binding. Questions 6 through 9 are governed by the Referendum Act’s provisions for constitutional questions. A favourable vote on a policy proposal does not by itself change federal law, amend the Constitution or put a provincial program into effect. Any proposed changes must proceed through the relevant legislative or constitutional processes.
Premier Danielle Smith has said she will address Albertans Tuesday evening about the results and the province’s next steps.
Follow the count
For the latest totals and constituency-level breakdowns, consult Elections Alberta’s official unofficial-results dashboard. AB Post will publish separate analyses of each of the ten questions, including vote margins, regional differences and what each outcome could mean in practice.
Sources: Elections Alberta, October 19 results-reporting notice; Reuters, October 20; Global News, October 20. Figures reflect early returns and will change as ballots are counted.
