Before You Vote: A Nonprofit’s Guide to Alberta’s October Referendum
Ten questions, three categories, and what they mean for the sector - starting with the basics.
On October 19th, 2026, Albertans will be asked to vote on 10 referendum questions. They span provincial immigration control to federal constitutional reform, and most recently Alberta separation.
These questions have direct implications for nonprofit service delivery, workforce, and funding. Many nonprofits serve newcomer populations, deliver provincially funded programs, and operate in areas where federal-provincial jurisdiction intersects with the services they provide.
If you aren’t sure what you’re being asked to vote on or what the outcomes could be for either a yes or no vote, you’re not alone.
We’re launching a series of blog posts, breaking down each of the questions, what they mean, and their impacts on the nonprofit sector, one at a time. Before we get into those details, we want to set the stage. Let’s go over what a referendum is, the process, and what you can do leading up to October.
What is a Referendum?
Referendums are best understood as the procedure of putting a question to voters. The provincial cabinet is responsible for the questions: how they’re phrased, the date of the vote, and whether the results of the questions are binding. A binding vote means the government is obligated to act on the results of the vote; the results of a non-binding vote can be understood as public approval for a certain policy direction.Independent bodies such as Elections Alberta are responsible for administering the referendum: creating the ballots, setting up the polls, and tallying the results.
According to the Order in Council that outlined questions (on immigration; on constitutional reform) for the October referendum, voters must answer with either a yes or no vote. The separation question, however, will be presented to voters in a multiple-choice format, as established in the Order in Council. Questions have limited regulatory oversight. While they cannot be unconstitutional, there is no requirement for the length, complexity, or phrasing of questions.
What is the Process?
The Cabinet issues an Order in Council: the Cabinet confirms question(s) for the referendum, date of the vote, whether results are binding, and rules for the campaign period, including spending on advertising, who can advertise, and how votes will be administered.
Referendum period opens: For the October 19 referendum, this period opened on March 31, 2026, when the Orders in Council were approved. Campaign financing and advertising rules apply as of this date.
Elections Alberta administers the vote: creates ballots, runs polling stations, and registers scrutineers.
October 19: Voting Day! Stay tuned to Nonprofits Vote, where we’ll be sharing all your voting day essentials, including when, where, and how to vote.
Counting and result certification: Elections Alberta has vote counting deadlines based on how many questions are on the ballot. For more than 7, results will be counted within 48 hours of polls closing. The changes in the 2025 Election Statutes Amendment Act means the use of tabulators to count ballots is no longer permitted. Votes must be counted by hand.
What Happens After the Vote?
Results of the referendum and next government steps
For this specific referendum, the 10 questions are split into three categories (Immigration; Constitutional; Separation) – each with different binding requirements that determine next steps.
The immigration questions are non-binding. This means the results are advisory and give the government validation to move forward with the issue at hand if they choose. A Yes vote, even on a non-binding question, gives the government a mandate to proceed.
The constitutional questions are always binding, as specified in the Referendum Act. The Act states that “if a majority of the ballots vote the same way, the result is binding on the government” and that the government must ‘take any steps within the competence of the Government of Alberta to implement it’. While the results are binding, there are some limitations:
Alberta cannot amend the Canadian Constitution by itself. Depending on the part of the constitution being changed, it requires either federal parliament and Alberta consensus, OR the federal parliament and 7 provinces that represent 50% of the Canadian population.
Binding doesn’t mean the change happens; it means the Alberta government is legally required to tryby taking steps within its own jurisdiction. For these constitutional questions, those steps are negotiations which Alberta cannot force the federal government or other provinces to engage in.
The separation question is non-binding. Voters will be asked to choose one other two options: remain in Canada or begin the legal process towards holding a provincial referendum on Alberta separation.
We will be reviewing the question format and the legal requirements which would need to be satisfied for the provincial government to pursue separation with the federal government in an upcoming blog.
What Can You Do?
We’ve compiled information on the rules of engagement for Alberta’s nonprofits and registered charities.
Click on the image to download!
$1000 threshold for third-party advertiser registration: Nonprofits must register with Elections Alberta as a third-party advertiser once they’ve spent $1,000 in referendum advertising expenses. Advertising includes promoting or opposing, or taking a position on, an issue associated with a question in a referendum. Paid advertising expenses include paid social media promotion, billboards, and newspaper ads. Track your spending from the start.
CRA rules on charities and political activity: registered charities can only take a public position on the referendum questions if it is connected to their charitable purpose. Keep track of how the referendum connects to your mission. Charities can be political, not partisan.
Board governance considerations: get your board on board. Make sure everyone is comfortable with the position your organization may take, and that everyone understands the difference between speaking as an individual versus speaking for the organization.
Speak to your peers, colleagues, networks and neighbours. Anyone can participate personally: speak publicly, donate to campaigns, or volunteer.
The most important thing you can do to engage in the process is to get informed and then go vote! Encourage those around you to show up at the polls on October 19 to cast their ballot. Nonprofits Vote will be sharing a vote kit later this summer to help you find when, where, and how to vote.
Stay tuned for the next post where we’ll be diving into the first referendum question. Starting in June, Nonprofits Vote will be creating opportunities to exchange information, discuss emerging issues, and to access practical tools to support engagement efforts.