A number of Alberta reporters grilled UCP Minister Ric McGiver over the party’s decision to proceed with Bill 20 that will require election ballots be hand-counted over the use of tabulators in municipal elections.

Minister McGiver’s Friday presser saw a number of reporters utterly dumbfounded over the move, while simultaneously distorting poll results during a testy question period.   

The UCP Minister cited a May 2024 Leger poll that indicated one-third of Albertans are in favour of banning tabulators during elections.

Multiple reporters falsely told McGiver that this meant two-thirds of Albertans don’t support the ban. However, the poll indicated that one-third of respondents opposed it, with almost one-third “unsure.”

Assuming it can be implied that “unsure” respondents have doubts over the impact that tabulators have over election integrity, the Leger poll revealed that over 50% of Albertans have concerns over the issue. 

Balancing priorities

Reporters noted that the ban will make elections more costly for some cities, such as Calgary and Edmonton, that will have to rely on hand-counting all ballots. Some suggested that the Alberta government should have to pay for any additional costs that stem from the new law.

McIver said cities will have to pay the difference. However, he also noted that the province will cover the costs related to pre-existing contracts that some municipalities might have with tabulator companies.

The bill, which fully comes into effect October 31, will also amend the Local Authorities Election Act and the Municipal Government Act by requiring third-party advertisers to register and report all finances. 

It’s also attempting to ensure that local elections aren’t controlled by the provincial parties, or the feds, by disallowing municipal candidates to have direct association with either.