>>18535407Today (October 19, 2026) is voting day for Alberta’s non-binding provincial referendum, whose key question concerns whether the province should begin the legal process toward a possible future binding vote on separation from Canada. 
Polls are open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time (MDT). Unofficial results for the separation question (counted first) are expected to start appearing after polls close, with fuller unofficial tallies within about 48 hours. 
The key question
Voters are asked (paraphrased from the official wording):
Should Alberta remain a province of Canada, or should the Government of Alberta commence the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on whether Alberta should separate from Canada? 
There are nine other non-binding questions covering immigration control, access to provincial services (health, education, social care), voter ID/citizenship requirements, and related constitutional matters. 
Polling and expectations
Recent polls (Angus Reid, Leger, Abacus, Ipsos and others in the weeks leading up to the vote) consistently show a clear majority favoring remaining in Canada—typically in the 66–74% range among decided voters—with support for starting the separation process in the low-to-mid 20s (around 22–25%). Many who lean toward the “process” option say their main goal is to send a message to Ottawa rather than achieve full independence. 
A substantial share of Albertans (around three-in-five in one Angus Reid survey) believe the separatist movement will not disappear after the vote. 
Turnout so far
Advance and special (mail-in) voting was very high: roughly 1.36 million ballots (about 43% of eligible electors) were already cast before election day—well above the comparable period in the 2023 provincial election. Eligible electors number around 3.1 million. 
Background and context
• Separatist sentiment grew from long-standing western alienation (energy policy, equalization, federal environmental rules) and was amplified by pandemic-era restrictions. A citizen petition gathered ~300,000 signatures seeking a binding independence referendum but was blocked by a court ruling over failure to consult First Nations. Premier Danielle Smith then placed her own non-binding question on the October ballot. 
• Smith opposes separation and has said she will respect the result. If the “process” option wins, she has indicated she would move toward a binding referendum (possibly as early as 2027). If the remain side wins, she has said she will not hold another separation referendum while she is premier. 
• Separatist organizers (including figures linked to the Alberta Prosperity Project / Let Alberta Decide and related groups) have stated they will continue organizing regardless of the outcome, viewing the vote itself as a success in elevating the issue. 
• Prime Minister Mark Carney campaigned actively in Alberta for the remain side in the final days, emphasizing national unity and pointing to recent federal moves on energy (including support for increased oil exports). 
Even a decisive remain victory is widely expected to leave the underlying grievances and a mobilized minority intact; analysts note the movement has shifted from fringe status into a durable force within provincial politics, especially among parts of the United Conservative Party base. Results will clarify the immediate next steps, but the broader debate is unlikely to end tonight.