United Conservative Party Leader Danielle Smith at the Brooks-Medicine Hat forum on May 17, 2023. (Photo Courtesy Bob Schneider)

By Canadian Press

Smith, Notley vote at advance polls in Calgary

May 23, 2023 | 3:07 PM

The leaders of of Alberta’s two top parties took advantage of an advance poll Tuesday to cast votes in Monday’s Alberta election.

Full Election Coverage: Alberta Votes 2023

Traffic at the Haysboro Community Centre in southwest Calgary was steady after the advance polls opened.

But there was only one other person inside when United Conservative Party Leader Danielle Smith accompanied by her support team, security officers and a throng of media arrived.

She was asked to verify her address, answered “yes” when asked if she was a Canadian citizen, and laughed and thanked the poll worker who asked her if she was over the age of 18.

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Smith declined to speak to the media after she cast her ballot.

Alberta NDP Leader Rachel Notley also cast her advance vote in Calgary today, urging more to do the same as the provincial election enters its final week.

Notley marked her ballot at an event alongside about 30 young people and says it’s a myth that youth aren’t politically engaged.

Calgary is considered to be a major battleground in the election

Polls suggest it continues to be a tight race with the edge going to Smith’s United Conservative Party.

They also suggest people under 45 are leaning toward the NDP and those over 45 are gravitating to the UCP.

Notley says her party is to continue knocking on doors and holding rallies to remind voters it has a plan to reinvest in Alberta while increasing access to family doctors and avoiding budget deficits.

Notley says the election is still up for grabs, adding that many traditional conservatives have told her they will lend her party their vote in order to defeat the UCP.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 23, 2023.

The Canadian Press