Elections Alberta began verifying signatures July 6 on a citizen initiative petition seeking a referendum on Alberta independence, with results due by July 27.

The petition, titled A Referendum Relating to Alberta Independence, proposes the question “Do you agree that the Province of Alberta should cease to be a part of Canada to become an independent state?”

Verification began following a June 29 Court of Appeal decision.

Proponent Mitch Sylvestre submitted the signature sheets May 4, but the process was put on hold — first through a stay issued by the Court of King’s Bench, then a decision that quashed the petition.

Sylvestre appealed and the Court of Appeal issued a partial stay requiring Elections Alberta to proceed with verification and report the results, effective July 6.

To succeed, the petition needs valid signatures from at least 10 per cent of the total votes cast in the 2023 provincial general election or 177,732 signatures. Elections Alberta has 21 days to verify the petition to a 95 per cent confidence level, using a method set out in the Citizen Initiative Act.

Verification includes confirming that only official signature sheets were used, that signatures are original and signed only once, that each carries the required elector information, and that each was witnessed by a registered canvasser.

Elections Alberta will also check a statistically valid random sample of signatories’ addresses and contact a random sample of signatories to confirm their information.

Those who listed a phone number will receive a text message ahead of a verification call; those who listed an email will receive a verification email. Elections Alberta says there is no need to call or text back, and electors who signed should be prepared to verify their information if contacted.

Chief Electoral Officer Gordon McClure notified both the proponent and the minister of justice of the verification dates, times and location. Both may request scrutineers (lawyers and active members of the Law Society) to observe.

It is the second citizen initiative petition Elections Alberta has verified this summer, following the Water Not Coal petition, which fell short of the signature threshold July 3.

Elections Alberta will post the verification results on its website as soon as practical, and no later than July 27. If the petition is successful, Elections Alberta will submit the proposal to the minister of justice, who is required under the Citizen Initiative Act to refer it toward a constitutional referendum.

More information on the citizen initiative process is available at elections.ab.ca.