NDP says Opposition spreading mistruths about election rules

The United Conservative Party is under fire for claiming NDP legislation would allow newcomers in Alberta to vote without proof of residency as soon as they enter the province.

If approved, Bill 32, which includes Election Act changes that aim to make voting more accessible, would end the six-month residency requirement to cast a ballot in Alberta. Voters would still need to provide identification and proof of Alberta residency to vote.

But UCP Leader Jason Kenney tweeted Friday that “NDP supporters are denying that their new election law removes the residency requirement to vote.

“Upshot: you can come to Alberta and vote the next day,” his tweet said.

On Saturday, he reiterated the message.

“Irony alert: according to the NDP, I’m not an Albertan after 27 years, but under their new election law someone can move here and vote the next day as an Albertan.”

That would not be allowed under the proposed rules, said Alberta Trade Minister Deron Bilous.

“(Kenney’s) understanding of the bill is so far from the truth he might as well be in Ontario,” he told reporters.

“There is still a residency requirement.”

To vote in Alberta, residents need to be Canadian citizens who are 18 years or older. They need to prove their identity and Alberta address. They can do this with a piece of government-issued identification, or with two pieces of identification on an approved list authorized by Elections Alberta.

Bilous said the move to end the six-month requirement was a recommendation by chief electoral officer Glen Resler to a 2014 standing committee on legislative offices.

“My understanding ... is that you can still fill a statutory declaration without ID,” UCP house leader Jason Nixon told reporters Monday.

According to the government, that’s not accurate. A voter on the list at a polling subdivision can vouch for someone in the same area by signing a declaration — but identification is still required.

“Essentially what they’ve been doing is spreading mistruths about this bill,” Bilous added.

Blaise Boehmer, spokesman for Kenney, said the NDP isn’t being clear about the rules and Bill 32 should go to committee for review.

“We’re not retracting anything,” he said Monday.