Primer on Alberta Election Systems 1905-2026 Provincial - Edmonton - Calgary - Lethbridge

Provincial elections

1905 -- First past the Post, single-member districts. (FPTP used in by-elections)

1909-1921 FPTP and Block Voting (FPTP used in by-elections)

mixture of single-member districts (FPTP) and one or more multi-member districts, where Block Voting was used.

MMD in Edmonton two seats Block Voting 1909, 1913, 1921

MMD in Calgary two seats Block Voting 1909

1917 only MMD was the army vote overseas.

each soldier had two votes.

Roberta MacAdams scored with her slogan "Give one of your votes to the soldier of

your choice, and give your other vote to the Sister."

  (An instance of non-district electing - votes collected from inside and outside Canada)

1921 5-seat districts in Edmonton and Calgary, and a 2-seat district in Medicine Hat.

1924 -1956 STV/IRV (IRV used in by-elections)

1924 STV adopted in the existing MMDs -- Edm, Calgary and M.H.

Instant-Runoff Voting (AKA Alternative Voting ) adopted in single-member districts

elsewhere. Theoretically, each member was elected with at least half the votes cast

in their district, but due to exhausted votes, sometimes less than half of cast votes

elected the eventual winner.

1924-1955 STV in Edmonton MMD of 5, 6 or 7 seats.

1924-1955 STV in Calgary MMD of 5 or 6 seats.

   each voter had one vote, but could mark back-up preferences to be used to transfer

    the votes to another candidate if needed.

prior to 1930 election - Medicine Hat re-drawn and divided into single-member

     districts. used IRV until 1955

only exception: 1944 Armed Services vote -- three seats elected by First Past the Post

one seat for Army, Navy and Airforce.

Serving Alberta residents in the respective branch could vote for rep.

(An instance of non-district electing - votes collected from around the world)

1956 - present First Past the Post, single-member districts  (FPTP used in by-elections)

many elected with only minority of votes cast in their district.

Use of various election systems in Edmonton and Calgary, Lethbridge at city level

1884 Town of Calgary town-wide district Block Voting

1892 Town of Edmonton - city-wide district staggered terms Block voting used.

1894 Calgary became city -- ward system three wards, nine aldermen, all nine elected three in each ward

1895-1913 Calgary staggered elections -- one third elected each year for three-year terms, a single-member in each ward, through FPTP.

1899 Town of Strathcona mayor (FPTP) and six aldermen city-wide district Block Voting

1900 Town of Strathcona mayor (FPTP), three aldermen city-wide district Block Voting

staggered terms

1904 City of Edmonton city-wide district staggered terms Block voting

1907 City of Strathcona - Eight aldermen two in each ward Block Voting

1908-1912 Strathcona - 8 aldermen staggered terms, one elected in each ward (FPTP)

(1912 Cities of Strathcona and Edmonton amalgamated)

1913 Lethbridge adopted commission form of city government, disbanding its council. using Instant-Runoff Voting to elect its mayor (city-wide) and commissioners (in single-member wards).

1913-1916 Calgary adopted city-wide district staggered elections.

Block voting used.

1916 each voter had seven votes.

1917-1960 Calgary elected its mayor city-wide through IRV

Aldermen elected in city-wide district through STV, staggered terms.

nine elected in 1917, electing first woman elected to Calgary city council Annie Gale see https://www.calgary.ca/info-requests/archives/election-exhibit.html

1923-1927 Edmonton - city-wide district, staggered terms, STV

1928-1971 Edmonton - city-wide district, staggered terms, Block Voting.

1928 - Lethbridge 7 aldermen elected city-wide district STV

1929-1971 Lethbridge staggered terms 3 or 4 elected each time Block Voting

1961 Calgary Wards established, two-seat wards, two members in each -- STV

1962-1970 Calgary two-seat wards (IRV)

staggered terms so one at a time elected usually

1964-1971 Edmonton city-wide district 12 elected through Block Voting

(about 100,000 voters cast almost 900,000 votes in 1964)

(staggered terms cancelled).

1971-1980 Edmonton three-seat wards Block voting

1971 Calgary two-seat wards STV used to elect both in each ward.

(staggered terms cancelled).

1971-present Lethbridge 8 aldermen Block Voting

(staggered terms cancelled)

1974 Calgary two-seat wards Block voting used to elect both in each ward.

1977- present Calgary -- 14 single-seat wards electing through FPTP

1980-2010 Edmonton two-seat wards Block Voting

2010-present Edmonton 12 single-seat wards electing through FPTP

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at present time, only Edmonton, Calgary and Specialized Municipality of Fort McMurray are using wards (single-member wards so FPTP).

All others elect in city-wide districts using Block Voting.

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Information sources:

Monto When Canada had Effective Voting and P.R. (2025)

Rek, Municipal elections in Edmonton

A Report on Alberta Elections, 1905-1982

online:

https://www.calgary.ca/info-requests/archives/election-exhibit.html

1971 section has sample of the ballot used in 1971, Calgary's last STV election, alongside a ballot for 1974 where each voter had two votes.

1971 Ward Five elected two (not mentioned on the ballot)

1974 Ward Five elected two (not mentioned on the ballot)

The 1971 ballot says voter can vote for multiple candidates (when in reality voter has just one vote, and indicates first preference and provides back-up preferences).

Wiki Lethbridge

Wiki "List of Calgary Municipal elections"

Wiki "2021 Lethbridge Municipal election"