UPDATED OCTOBER 23, 5:17 P.M. MT: Nearly all voting locations have reported and the unofficial results now show a stable pattern across the ten questions. Five proposals concerning immigration, provincial programs and voting requirements lead Yes; all four constitutional proposals lead No. Elections Alberta will publish the verified official results October 29.
EDMONTON — About three-quarters of voters in Alberta's October 19 referendum have chosen the option to remain in Canada, according to near-complete unofficial returns. The other nine questions are split: five proposals related to immigration, provincial programs and proof of citizenship for voting have Yes leads, while four proposed constitutional changes face rejection.
An Alberta.io results snapshot at 5:17 p.m. MT Friday, October 23, drawing from Elections Alberta data, shows 100 per cent of voting areas and locations have reported at least one question. That does not establish that every ballot on every question has been verified. All figures remain unofficial until Elections Alberta's scheduled announcement on October 29.
About 75 per cent back remaining in Canada
On Question 10, 1,545,777 votes supported remaining a province of Canada and 513,938 supported beginning the legal process toward a future binding referendum on separation. That represents 75.0 per cent for Remain and 25.0 per cent for beginning the separation-referendum process in the latest snapshot. These vote totals may still be revised before the official declaration.
The question was not an immediate vote to leave Canada. It asked whether the provincial government should begin the legal process required to hold another, binding referendum. The October 19 vote itself is non-binding.
In a televised address on October 20, Premier Danielle Smith acknowledged the strong Remain result and said she would not hold another separation referendum while she is premier. She also said her government would continue pursuing Alberta's interests through political and legal institutions within Canada.
How Albertans voted on the other nine questions
At 5:17 p.m. MT October 23, Yes led on Questions 1 through 5, while No led on the constitutional Questions 6 through 9. Below are the near-complete but still unofficial shares of valid votes counted, rounded to one decimal place:
Question 1. Increase provincial control over immigration: Yes 54.8%, No 45.2%.
Question 2. Restrict eligibility for provincially funded programs according to immigration status: Yes 52.4%, No 47.6%.
Question 3. Require a 12-month residency period for certain non-permanent residents before provincial social supports: Yes 53.1%, No 46.9%.
Question 4. Charge certain non-permanent residents fees or premiums for health care and education: Yes 52.0%, No 48.0%.
Question 5. Require proof of citizenship to vote in provincial elections: Yes 58.1%, No 41.9%.
Question 6. Have provincial governments select judges for King's Bench and Appeal courts: Yes 45.3%, No 54.7%.
Question 7. Seek a constitutional amendment abolishing the Senate: Yes 47.4%, No 52.6%.
Question 8. Allow provinces to opt out of federal programs in provincial areas while retaining associated federal funding: Yes 42.4%, No 57.6%.
Question 9. Give provincial laws priority over conflicting federal laws in provincial or shared areas of jurisdiction: Yes 44.5%, No 55.5%.
All four constitutional proposals appear headed for defeat
The results have changed considerably from the early count. Tuesday's returns showed Yes leading on the judicial appointments and provincial-law priority proposals; the Senate question also initially leaned Yes. As further ballots were counted, No moved ahead on all four constitutional questions. With most counting now complete, those No leads have grown more substantial.
Question 8, asking whether provinces should be allowed to opt out of certain federal programs without losing associated funding, has the largest No share at 57.6 per cent. Question 7, proposing abolition of the Senate, remains the closest constitutional question, with 52.6 per cent No and 47.4 per cent Yes. These are unofficial leads, not formally declared outcomes.
The proposed constitutional changes would require cooperation beyond Alberta and changes under Canada's constitutional procedures. A referendum result alone cannot amend the Constitution.
Calgary's separation vote
Calgary has generally shown stronger support for remaining in Canada than the provincial average, according to riding-level returns. Support for Remain varies among the city's constituencies, but the provincewide vote is decisively against beginning a separation-referendum process.
Detailed constituency returns remain subject to Elections Alberta's final verification.
What happens before the official results?
The live results tracker now shows 100 per cent of voting areas and locations reporting at least one question, but Elections Alberta cautions that this measure is not equivalent to every question being fully counted and verified at those locations. The near-complete totals may still change.
On Alberta.io, which compares votes recorded on Questions 1 through 9 against those recorded on the separation question, the later questions are at roughly 98 to 100 per cent of that benchmark. These are the tracker's approximate progress estimates, not certified completion percentages.
The referendum questions are non-binding. Elections Alberta is scheduled to make its official declaration on Thursday, October 29, 2026. Until then, YYC24 is reporting the nearly complete vote totals as unofficial.
Source: Elections Alberta's official referendum results portal contains the reporting authority's official live results interface.
Results snapshot: Alberta.io's live tabulation of Elections Alberta data, snapshot at 5:17 p.m. MT on Friday, October 23, 2026.
Premier's response: Global News coverage of Danielle Smith's October 20 address.
Counting procedures and verification: Elections Alberta's October 19 statement.