By Archie McLean , Edmonton Journal February 26, 2010
EDMONTON — The Alberta government will change the way its elections are run, granting prisoners the right to vote and putting an end to the political appointment of returning officers.
The Election Statutes Amendment Act, tabled Thursday in the provincial legislature, also increases access to advanced polling, changes the rules around third-party advertising and eases the identification requirements at the polls.
Justice Minister Alison Redford admitted that it didn't look right to have the government appointing the people running the election.
"It had been subject to public comment," Redford said. "We certainly, as the premier said, didn't disagree that there would have been that perception."
Allowing prisoners to vote puts the province in compliance with a 2002 Supreme Court decision.
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