Some referendum ballots missing as Albertans begin to receive mail-in paperwork

As demand for mail-in ballots continues to climb ahead of the Alberta referendum , some residents are reporting problems with the packages they have received from Elections Alberta.

Edmonton seniors Lorrie and John Jegen got their mail-in voting packages on Sept. 1. While Lorrie’s envelope contained all the required slips of paper, her husband’s was significantly lighter.

“All I got was… one ballot,” John Jegen said, holding up the slip of paper containing the first referendum question from the package he received — which was missing the other nine questions.

The couple applied to vote in advance to avoid lines at polling stations like the ones experienced during last year’s municipal election, when some voters waited several hours.

“The thought of standing in line for three or four hours because there’s no automatic tabulated voting machines and what have you … it’s tough for a couple like us,” Jegen said.