The following is mandatory for a Recall Petition Application:

1. Recall Petition Application Form must be filled out by the applicant. 
2. The Notice of Recall Petition requires the applicant to provide a statement of 200 words or less stating the reason for the recall. Elections Alberta uses an electronic word count feature and will deny submissions with more than 200 words. The Notice of Recall Petition will be made public and must be reviewed by all electors signing the petition. 
3. Authorized ID demonstrating the elector’s identity and address within the electoral division.
4. Appointment of Chief Financial Officer: a signed statement identifying the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for the petition, providing the CFO’s residential address (including postal code, and mailing address if different from the residential address), phone number, and e-mail address.   Sample - Appointment of Chief Financial Officer  
5. The $500 application fee, paid by cash, a certified cheque and/or bank or postal money order made payable to “Government of Alberta”

Sample - Recall Petition Application Form

--> Recall Petition: Once the application has been approved, the applicant will be provided with the petition signature sheets and witness affidavits in the format that must be used. Signatures collected on other forms will not be accepted. The applicant is responsible to make copies of the forms. 

Sample - Notice of Recall Petition

--> Signature Canvassers: The applicant must register every individual that they wish to canvass on their behalf. Canvassers must be electors that have lived in the electoral division in the previous 3-month period prior to canvassing. 

--> Collect Signatures: The petition committee must collect signatures from eligible electors in the constituency. In Alberta, only eligible electors who are registered to vote in the constituency can sign the recall petition. Application to Canvass for a Recall Petition must be submitted to Elections Alberta along with a copy of Authorized Identification for that canvasser. 

--> Requirements for Signatures: 

1. Print legibly their surname and given names
2. Supply the physical address where they ordinarily reside at the time of signing
3. Provide their telephone number and/or email address
4. Confirm that they are an elector, residing within the division for the previous 3 months
5. Date on which they signed the petition
6. All signatures must be captured within the 60 day canvassing period

--> Submit the Petition: Once enough signatures have been collected, the petition must be submitted to the Chief Electoral Officer of Alberta. The petition committee should ensure that all required documentation is included and that the petition meets the necessary criteria.

--> Verification Process: The Chief Electoral Officer will verify the signatures on the petition to ensure they meet the requirements. This process may take some time, and the petition committee should be prepared to provide any additional information or documentation as requested.

--> Public Notice: If the petition is deemed valid, a public notice will be issued, and a recall vote will be scheduled. The MLA targeted for recall will have an opportunity to respond to the allegations before the recall vote takes place.

--> Recall Vote: A recall vote will be held, allowing eligible electors in the constituency to vote on whether to recall the MLA. If the majority of voters support the recall, the MLA's seat will become vacant, triggering a by-election to fill the vacancy.

What if the recall fails?

There is a possibility that a recall will fail in many constituencies in Alberta. However, in other constituencies - particularly those in Calgary and Lethbridge - the sitting MLA won by a miniscule margin. This minimal number - a few hundred in most cases - can be swayed via suitable promotion and education within the community ahead of recall byelection.