Alberta Provincial Election 2027: Employee rights

This resource explains the rights employees have when voting in a provincial election in Alberta.

Continue reading to learn more about your employer’s obligations on voting day in the province to enable you to exercise your civic duty.

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When is Alberta’s next provincial election?

Alberta’s 32nd general election is scheduled to take place on May 31, 2027. 

This can change if the Lieutenant Governor dissolves the Legislature sooner. The 31st general election occurred on May 29, 2023.

Amendments to Alberta’s Elections Act in 2021 changed the fixed election date.

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Who is allowed to vote in Alberta’s next provincial election?

Employees in Alberta can vote in the next provincial election if they are:

• A Canadian citizen
• 18 years of age or older
• A resident of Alberta

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Can I take time off work to vote in Alberta’s general election?

If you are working during the hours that the polls are open, you can take time off work to cast you ballot in Alberta’s upcoming provincial election.

However, in order to vote, you must meet the three qualifications identified in the province’s Elections Act.

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How much time do employees get to vote in Alberta?

In Alberta, employees get three consecutive hours off work to cast their vote at a polling station.

This arrangement ensures that individuals have enough time to travel between their workplace and the appropriate polling station.

You don’t automatically get three hours off work

Employers in Alberta aren’t necessarily required to give staff a full three hours off work to accommodate their right to vote.

Instead, an employee’s schedule must give them the opportunity to cast their ballot during a time when they aren’t working and the polls are open.

• Example: If polls are open between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., and an employee is scheduled to work between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., an employer can decide whether the employee will alternately start at 11 a.m. (to provide three free hours to vote between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m.) or leave work early at 5 p.m. (to provide time to vote between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.).

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Who decides when I can take time off to vote?

Employers in Alberta have the right to choose which hours staff can take off to cast their ballot in the provincial election.

Your company can choose the time that is most convenient for the business.

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Do I get paid time off to vote?

In Alberta, employees must be paid for the time they take off work to vote.

The day is treated as if the employee hasn’t been given the appropriate time to vote.

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Can my employer withhold pay if I take time off to vote?

No. Your employer can’t withhold your pay, reduce your pay, or penalize you if you stop working to cast your ballot in Alberta’s general election.

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How should I request time off to vote?

It’s recommended that employees in Alberta make their requests to take time off to vote in writing.

This ensures that you avoid any ambiguity over the request made and consent given.

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