Election scrutineers at voting stations and the counting centre
Role and appointment
What is a scrutineer and what is their role?
Scrutineers are appointed by a candidate to observe the voting process at a voting station, as well as the counting of ballots in a voting station and at the counting centre.
- The appointment of scrutineers by candidates is discretionary.
- A candidate’s official agent may be a scrutineer.
Who can be a scrutineer?
To be appointed as a scrutineer, an individual must:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Not have been convicted of an election-related offense under the Local Authorities Election Act, Election Act (Alberta), Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act or the Canada Elections Act in the last 10 years.
Making a statement or oath at the voting station
When entering a voting station, a scrutineer must show their Scrutineer Appointment form to the PDRO. The PDRO will ask scrutineers to make a verbal statement/oath and complete the Statement of Scrutineer form.
If a scrutineer leaves and returns to the same voting station, they must show the appointment form again. They do not have to repeat the statement/oath or statement form.
How are scrutineers appointed?
Scrutineers are appointed by a candidate using the Scrutineer Appointment Form (PDF). The form is completed and signed by the candidate before the scrutineer visits a voting station or the counting centre. A separate form is completed for each scrutineer being appointed, which lists the voting stations or counting centre at which they are authorized to observe. Indicating the voting station name is sufficient (voting station number is optional). Indicating “counting centre” is acceptable. View all voting station opportunities (Excel document).
A scrutineer keeps the signed form with them and shows it to the Presiding Deputy Returning Officer (PDRO) at each voting station they visit. The PDRO will ask the scrutineer to make a statement confirming their appointment and maintaining the secrecy of the vote.
Multiple candidates can appoint an individual scrutineer, but each candidate must appoint the same scrutineer using a separate form.
Observing the voting process
Where can scrutineers observe the voting process?
Scrutineers can observe at any Advance Vote, institutional (care facilities and shelters where a public area is provided for voting) and Election Day voting stations.
The Presiding Deputy Returning Officer (PDRO) sets aside a specific area within the voting station for scrutineers to observe the voting process. Scrutineers may enter the voting station 15 minutes before they are open to view the empty ballot boxes before they are sealed.
How many scrutineers are permitted to observe the voting process?
One scrutineer per candidate can observe at a voting station. There are 42 Advance Vote stations and 261 Election Day voting stations. View all voting stations (Excel document).
Only the candidate, their official agent or their scrutineer may observe the voting. A candidate or their official agent or scrutineer cannot observe the voting process in the voting station at the same time.
General rules for scrutineers in a voting station
- A candidate or official agent may be a scrutineer.
- A candidate, official agent and a scrutineer cannot be in the same voting station at the same time.
- Scrutineers are given an identification badge which must be worn while in the station and returned before leaving.
- Scrutineers can leave and return to a voting station during voting hours.
- Scrutineers can be assigned more than one voting station.
- To observe the ballot count, a scrutineer must be inside the voting station before it closes and cannot leave and return while the count is in progress.
Do What a scrutineer CAN do in a voting station
Before the voting station opens:
- A scrutineer may enter the voting station 15 minutes before the station opens.
- A scrutineer may view the ballot boxes to ensure they are empty before they are sealed.
During voting hours:
- A scrutineer may observe the activities in the voting station.
- A scrutineer may ask to see the name and addresses of electors who have requested a mail-in (special) ballot. However, photos and copies of this list are not permitted.
Don't What a scrutineer CANNOT do in a voting station
- Take a photo or make a copy of the elector registry.
- Interfere with the voting process.
- Prevent an elector from voting.
- View an elector marking their ballot.
- Assist an elector to mark a ballot. An election worker can assist an elector and is sworn to secrecy.
- Campaign inside or outside the voting station, including the parking lot.
- Wear campaign materials such as buttons, t-shirts or hats.
- Talk to an elector in the voting station.
- Touch voting materials.
- Vouch for a person at the voting station.
- Object to a person voting.
- Participate in the counting of ballots.
- Take phone calls inside the voting station.
Any exchange of information between the scrutineer and candidate, or official agent, must take place outside of the voting station.
No pictures or videos. To protect the privacy of electors’ personal information and the secrecy of their vote, photos and videos are not permitted in the voting station at any time.
Observing the counting process
Note: Vote count completion times are estimates and will depend on voter turnout.
For a visual representation view Ballot Counting Schedule (PDF).
Ballot counting for Election Day voting stations
Counting at each voting station will begin at 8 p.m. or after all the voters in line have had an opportunity to cast their ballot.
Unofficial results for voting stations will be posted on Calgary.ca after the completion of the count and the submission of the required forms for each contest.
Timeline:
- Mayor and councillor ballots are counted first, followed by school board trustee ballots.
- Counting is complete at approximately 12 a.m. (midnight).
- Unofficial results are posted to elections calgary.ca.
Ballot counting at the Counting Centre
Advance Vote stations, care facilities, post-secondary institutions, hospitals, vote bus, shelters, mail-in ballots.
Unofficial results for the counting centre will be posted on Calgary.ca after the count is completed and the required forms for each contest at each booth are submitted.
Election Day (October 20, 2025)
The mayor ballots for 6 days of Advance Vote and mail-in ballots.
Timeline for mayor ballots
- Mayor ballot counting begins at 7:30 p.m.
- Mayor ballot counting is complete at approximately 1 a.m.
- Unofficial Results are posted to elections calgary.ca.
Day 2 (October 21, 2025)
Councillor and school board trustee ballots for 6 days of Advance Vote and mail-in ballots.
Timeline for councillor ballots
- Councillor counting begins at approximately 10:30 a.m.
- Councillor counting is complete at approximately 2:30 p.m.
- Unofficial Results posted to elections calgary.ca.
Timeline for school trustee ballots
- School trustee counting begins at approximately 2:30 p.m.
- School trustee counting is complete at approximately 8 p.m.
- Unofficial results posted to elections calgary.ca.
Scrutineers on Election Day and Oct. 21
Voting Stations on Election Day (Oct. 20)
A candidate or their official agent or scrutineer cannot observe the count of ballots in the same voting station at the same time.
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Counting Centre on Election Day (Oct. 20)
Only one of the following may observe the count at each ballot box at the counting centre: the candidate, the candidate’s official agent, or the candidate’s scrutineer. The number of scrutineers may change based on the number of ballot boxes counted at one time
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Counting Centre on Oct. 21
Only one of the following may observe the count at each ballot box at the counting centre: the candidate, the candidate’s official agent or the candidate’s scrutineer. Number of scrutineers may change based on number of ballot boxes counted at one time.
| Activity being observed | Number of scrutineers permitted | Other details |
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General rules for scrutineers during the counting process
- At voting stations, scrutineers must be inside before closing time at 8 p.m. and cannot leave and return when the count is in progress.
- At the counting centre, scrutineers can enter before the start of the count, following the schedule provided above on this webpage.
Do What a scrutineer CAN do during the ballot counting
- Watch the counting of ballots at each table.
- Object to how any ballot is counted. The objection will be recorded.
- Sign the Ballot Account and Result of Vote form.
Don't What a scrutineer CANNOT do during the ballot counting
- Wear campaign materials such as buttons, t-shirts or hats.
- Touch the election materials.
- Count the ballots.
- Interrupt the counting process by talking to election workers (unless objecting to how a ballot is counted).
- Take phone calls inside the voting station.
- Note: Phone calls in the counting centre can be taken in the break area (Bar Nineteen Twelve).
- Take photos or videos.
- Carry food or drink (water bottles with secure lids are permitted).
Resources
Counting Centre Floorplan
You can view the layout of the counting centre by referring to the
Counting Centre floor plan (PDF).
Parking at the Counting Centre
Parking on Monday, Oct. 20 and Oct. 21
Elections Calgary has a limited number of parking spots within a fenced area on Oct. 20 and Oct. 21 in Lots 3 and 6 ($18 flat rate). Payments can be made using the pay machines on site, ParkPlus, or the virtual pay meter.
You can view a map of Stampede Park Counting Centre parking map (PDF)
Scrutineer information handouts
Information for scrutineers is also included in the following printable documents:
Information for scrutineers while in the voting station (PDF)
