Voter Information

List of Electors

Elections Alberta will share your provincial voter information with municipalities for the creation of permanent Elector Registers, as required by Alberta provincial legislation. Each municipality's permanent register is made up of the provincial voter information of its residents.

To ensure that the City of Medicine Hat has the most accurate information when we create our Permanent Elector Register, please update your provincial voter registration information.

Update my info

Municipal Voters

Voter Eligibility

The Local Authorities Election Act (s. 47 LAEA) outlines that a person is eligible to vote in a Municipal Election if the person:

  • is at least 18 years old,
  • is a Canadian citizen, and
  • resides in Alberta and the person's place of residence is located in the local jurisdiction on election day.

School Board Voters

Electors may vote for either a Public or Separate School Board Trustee depending on residency and faith. If you reside within the boundaries of a separate school district and share the same faith as those who establish the district, you are a resident of the separate school district, not of the public school district. S.74 of the Education Act.

Or, in other words:

An individual who resides within the boundaries of a separate (Catholic) school district, and shares the same faith as those who established the district (Catholic), is a resident of the separate (Catholic) school district, and is eligible to vote for trustees of the Roman Catholic separate school system. All separate school districts are Roman Catholic. A Roman Catholic is defined as a person who is in communion with the See of Rome.

Frequently asked questions

Who can vote?
  • You must be a Canadian citizen 
  • You must be at least 18 years old
  • You must reside in Alberta, and 
  • Your place of residence (the place where you eat, sleep and intend to return to when away) is located in the local jurisdiction (Medicine Hat) on Election Day
What do I need to bring with me?

There is now a permanent List of Electors for Medicine Hat, however, you still need to bring identification with you.

 

Voter identification requirements

All voters must show identification. Your ID must be issued by a Canadian government (federal, provincial, or local) or a government agency, and must meet these rules:

If you ARE on the List of Electors

  • Your ID must contain your photo and your name.

If you ARE NOT on the List of Electors 

  • Your ID must contain your photo, your name, and your home address.

Not sure if you are on the List of Electors? We'll have more information live in May 2025.

 

What if I don't have a Photo ID?

If you do not have a driver’s license or Alberta I.D. Card, you must produce one piece of identification from the following list prior to voting. Electronic versions of these documents will be accepted. The identification must establish your name and current address.

  • Utility bill: e.g. telephone, public utilities, commission, television, gas, or water
  • Residential lease or mortgage statement.
  • Statement of government benefits: e.g. employment insurance, old-age security, social assistance, disability support, or child tax benefit.
  • Bank/credit card statement or personal cheque.
  • Pension plan statement of benefits, contributions, or participation.
  • Government cheque or cheque stub.
  • Insurance policy or coverage card.
  • Vehicle ownership or insurance certificate.

A letter or form (attestation) confirming that the voter lives at the stated address will also be accepted as valid proof of eligibility to vote. The letter can be signed prior to the vote by any of the following:

  • authorized representative of a commercial property management company;
  • authorized representative of a correctional institution;
  • authorized representative of a First Nations band or reserve;
  • authorized representative of a post-secondary institution;
  • authorized representative of a facility that provides services to the homeless; or
  • authorized representative of a supportive living facility or treatment centre.
Can someone vouch for me?

If you do not have any pieces of identification listed above, you may bring a person with you that knows you, to vouch that you are eligible to vote. That person must:

  • be eligible to vote themselves
  • have their name on the List of Electors
  • only vouch for you or other eligible members of your household
Where and when do advance polls take place?

Extra assistance is available at our advance voting stations for persons with physical disabilities.

Hockey Hounds Recreational Centre (39 10 St NE, Medicine Hat, AB)
Saturday, October 4, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
October 14 to 18, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Holy Family Parish (1451 Strachan Rd SE, Medicine Hat, AB)
Saturday October 4, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
October 14 to 18, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Where do I vote on Election Day?

The 2025 Municipal Election allows you to vote from any voting station within the City. All of our voting stations are fully accessible. Voting stations are open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Check back closer to election time to find an interactive voting station map.
Do I have to vote for the required number of candidates?
No, however, you may only vote once for each candidate and only up to the number of candidates to be elected to the office.
Can I get time off work to vote?

Voting stations are open from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Election Day.

If you are an employee and a voter, you have the right to have three hours in a row to vote while the voting station is open. If your work hours don’t give you three hours to vote, your employer must provide you extra time so you have three hours in total. Your employer can decide when to provide you this time. For example, if you finish work at 5 p.m., you already have three hours to vote between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. However, if you finish work at 6 p.m. (and were not able to vote in the morning), you employer could let you leave at 5 p.m. to ensure you have the required three hours.
I own property in more than one municipality, can I vote in both?
No. If you own property in more than one town or city, you can only vote in one of them. According to the Local Authorities Elections Act, you should vote in the place where you typically reside.
If I own a business in a municipality, but do not live in that municipality, can I still vote in the municipality where I own my business?
No. You would not meet the ‘eligibility to vote’ criteria, as your place of residence must be located in the local jurisdiction (Medicine Hat) on Election Day.
If I am a renter, not a property owner, am I entitled to vote?
Yes, a renter can vote if they meet the ‘eligibility to vote’ criteria above.
If I am a student attending an educational institution, am I eligible to vote?
If you are a student who rents a place to live while attending school in Medicine Hat, but normally lives with your family in another jurisdiction, you are considered to live with your family. This means you cannot vote in Medicine Hat, however, you may be able to vote where your family lives if you meet the voting rules for that area.
Can I vote for both a public and separate (Catholic) school board trustee?
No. You may vote for either a public or separate (Catholic) school board trustee depending on residency. Residency is determined by faith. If you reside within the boundaries of a separate (Catholic) school district and share the same faith (Catholic) as those who established the district, you are a resident of the separate school district, not of the public school district. 
What are the rules on election signs?
A candidate may start campaigning at any time. Candidates may put up signs along boulevards and roads provided the sign does not pose a traffic safety hazard. Signage in City parks is prohibited. More details to guide candidates and their campaign workers are contained on the Candidates Nomination page.
Who is eligible to observe the election process?
A candidate, an official agent or scrutineer for a particular candidate may be in the voting station, however, they may not all be in a voting station at the same time during voting hours.
When is the election result official?
Election results are considered official at 12 noon on fourth day after Election Day. The Returning Officer will publish unofficial election results at approximately 1 a.m. on Election Night on the City’s website.
What do you do if there is a tie?
If a tie determines who is elected or not, the Retuning Officer writes the names of those candidates on separate pieces of paper and “draws a name from a hat”. The name on the withdrawn paper is considered to receive one more vote.