Nenshi says not sending voter cards due to postal strike could affect byelection

Alberta Opposition Leader Naheed Nenshi says a decision not to mail out voter registration cards due to the Canada Post strike could hurt turnout in a provincial byelection that's been called for a week before Christmas.

Nenshi, who leads the province's NDP, says in a letter to Chief Electoral Officer Gordon McClure that the cards are ``one of the few remaining supports provided by Elections Alberta to promote access to democracy.''

Premier Danielle Smith announced last week that a byelection for Lethbridge-West will be held Dec. 18, to fill the vacancy that opened up when former NDP MLA Shannon Phillips resigned July 1.

Nenshi had repeatedly urged Smith to call the byelection given both the NDP and the governing United Conservative Party candidates have been in place since September.

Alberta Elections notes on its website that due to the Canada Post strike, ``Where to Vote'' cards will not be mailed to electors, and warns that in the event of a a continuing strike, electors choosing to vote by special ballot may have to use other ways to send them in, such as a courier.

Nenshi says the Alberta NDP wants Elections Alberta to conduct``robust voter outreach,'' which he says could include billboards and road signs across the riding, radio ads and a phone and text campaign.