Special Ballot Opportunities
All municipalities in Alberta are now required to offer special ballots in accordance with the Local Authorities Election Act. Eligible voters of Rocky View County who are unable to attend a voting station on Election Day or during the advance vote, may request to vote by mail (special ballot).
The same eligibility requirements that apply within a voting station also apply to voting by special ballot; however, the process for confirming a voter’s eligibility is different.
- Requesting Special Ballots:
- Voters may begin requesting special ballots on August 1, 2025 or as soon as they are aware that they will be unable to attend a voting station on Election Day or during the advance vote.
- Confirming List of Candidates:
- The final day for candidates to submit their nomination paperwork is on nomination day, which is September 22, 2025.
- Printing Special Ballots:
- Rocky View County will begin finalizing and printing special ballots shortly after the close of nominations on nomination day, which is September 22, 2025.
- Distributing Special Ballots:
- Rocky View County will begin distributing special ballots to requestors shortly after finalizing and printing the ballots.
- Returning Special Ballots:
- All special ballots must be returned to Rocky View County by 4:30 p.m. on Election Day, which is October 20, 2025.
Please note that Rocky View County will only begin distribution of special ballots after the close of nominations on nomination day, which is September 22, 2025, even if a voter has requested a special ballot before that date.
Rocky View School trustee ballots will not be included in any special ballot package. To vote for Rocky View School trustees you will need to visit an advance vote or Election Day location.
Requesting a Special Ballot
The first step in requesting a special ballot is to complete the mandatory Form 22 – Request for Special Ballot Package (PDF download, cannot be view in browser). Special ballot requests may be submitted to Rocky View County through one of the following methods beginning on August 1, 2025:
After submitting a request, Rocky View County will reach out to confirm that your special ballot request has been received and confirmed. The process after submitting a request may be different depending on whether voters are on the Permanent Electors Register, which is a new requirement of municipalities in the 2025 municipal Election:
- For eligible voters who are not on the Permanent Electors Register, completion of Form 13 – Elector Register (PDF download, cannot be view in browser), along with a copy of the voter’s identification, is required in order to add the voter to the Permanent Electors Register
- There are no additional requirements for eligible voters who are on the Permanent Electors Register
For more information on the Permanent Electors Register, please visit our Voter Information webpage. To confirm if you are on Rocky View County’s Permanent Electors Register, please contact the County at elections@rockyview.ca or (403) 230-1401.
Returning a Special Ballot
Rocky View County will begin distributing special ballot packages to requestors shortly after the close of candidate nominations on September 22, 2025. Special ballot packages include detailed instructions on how to complete the special ballot and how to provide a copy of your identification.
Voters may begin completing and returning their special ballots to Rocky View County as soon as they have been received. All special ballots must be returned to Rocky View County no later than 4:30 p.m. on Election Day, which is October 20, 2025, through one of the following methods
- In person at the County Hall during regular business hours; or
- By mail to the County Hall
If you have questions or are unsure of how to complete your special ballot, please contact the County at elections@rockyview.ca or (403) 230-1401.
Important: Due to recent changes to the Local Authorities Election Act, municipalities are no longer able to collect special ballots through a mail drop box or other central collection point. Any and all special ballots left in the mail drop box outside of the County Hall will be considered rejected and will not be counted.
Counting of Special Ballots
After receiving special ballot packages returned from voters, Rocky View County’s election staff complete the following steps before depositing the ballot for counting on Election Day:
- Verify that the voter is on the Permanent Electors Register, which is now a requirement under the Local Authorities Election Act
- Confirm that the special ballot package has been completed properly
- Verify the voter’s identification and eligibility to vote
- Confirm that the voter has not already voted
If there is incomplete, missing, or inaccurate information with a special ballot package, the ballot will be considered rejected and will not be counted. If the special ballot package has been completed satisfactorily, the ballot will be deposited and the voter marked as having voted.
Because special ballots can be returned at any time leading up to Election Day, special ballots are kept secure and counted separately from regular ballots cast on Election Day. Special ballots are counted at the County Hall on Election Day, along with ballots cast during the advance vote, in accordance with the County’s Election Bylaw.
Note: All voting stations have access to a list of those who have voted by special ballot to ensure that voters are not voting multiple times through different methods.
Questions?
If you have questions about how to request or complete a special ballot, please contact Rocky View County Elections at elections@rockyview.ca or (403) 230-1401.