Albertans concerned with Elections Alberta’s use of electronic voting machines in the upcoming provincial election have retained legal counsel, which is arguing that use of the tabulators would reduce election integrity.
Alberta litigator Leighton Grey of Grey Wowk Spencer LLP sent a letter to Elections Alberta on Monday, saying he represents many residents concerned with ensuring the integrity of the province’s 29th election.
Grey says he’s become aware that Elections Alberta intends to enable machine tabulator counting in the upcoming provincial election. The letter argues that the Alberta Election Act clearly intends for “witnessed hand counting of ballots.”
“Any Directive to extend electronic voting machines to the entire Alberta 2023 election would necessarily impugn the integrity and reliability of its outcome,” says the letter, which has been viewed by True North.
The letter stipulates that Elections Alberta has a responsibility under the Elections Act to facilitate accessible voting, with the use of “accessible voting equipment” such as voting equipment and related vote-counting equipment.
But, the firm argues that the use of voting machines does not agree with the “spirit and intention of the Alberta Elections Act.”
“Any directive produced by the Chief Electoral Officer must aim to give the voting public confidence that checks and balances are in place to ensure that results are above reproach.”
After losing the 2020 US election, former President Donald Trump was relentless in his attacks against electronic voting equipment. The attacks largely centered on Dominion Voting Systems, a Canadian software company that’s widely used in the US.
Trump argued that Dominion tampered with millions of electronic ballots.
In recent weeks, Dominion filed defamation lawsuits against conservative media companies and Trump lawyers Sidney Powell and Rudy Giuliani, saying “lies and misinformation have severely damaged our company and diminished the credibility of U.S. elections.”
Grey also argued that electronic voting machines reduced confidence in the Calgary Municipal elections where the results could not be appealed because the ballots were machine counted and then immediately destroyed.
He requested confirmation from Elections Alberta that all ballots will be securely preserved for up to three months after the election, and up to three months from any recount, and that any party’s candidate may request a recount.
Grey also requested that if a recount overturns the electronic counting in that poll, the impacted party can request the entire provincial vote be recounted using only paper ballots.
“There has been much talk around the world about flaws in machine voting,” the letter reads.
“This is a crucial election for the future of Alberta and so the eyes of every Albertan and indeed the nation are upon you. It is thus imperative that you take all reasonable steps to uphold and preserve the fairness and integrity of the electoral process.”
Grey Wowk Spencer LLP requested a response from Elections Alberta by April 15.
Elections Alberta did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday afternoon.
