In Edmonton, a shift in the results of a ward race occurred following a recount by Edmonton Elections. The race in Ward sipiwiyiniwak initially showed a narrow lead of only six votes for Darrell Friesen over Thu Parmar. Due to the tight margin, a recount was ordered by Edmonton Elections on Tuesday.
Parmar expressed her elation at the outcome, likening it to winning in overtime. The updated results, posted on the city’s website on Wednesday, revealed Parmar as the victor with 30.36% of the votes, surpassing Friesen’s 27.5% by more than 600 votes. Edmonton Elections cited human error as the reason for the discrepancies in the initial count.
While still processing ballots in other wards, Parmar emphasized the need for improved oversight in the electoral process, particularly addressing the long lineups at polling stations. Friesen, though surprised by the recount results, stated he would not challenge them and acknowledged Parmar’s success as the choice of the ward.
Meanwhile, delays were experienced in three polling stations, affecting the races in wards Métis, Pihêsiwin, and Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi. The uncounted votes were eventually tallied, with Jon Morgan securing victory in Ward Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi. Candidates like Morgan and Ashley Salvador criticized the hand-counting requirement, attributing the delays to the new rules imposed on Edmonton Elections by the provincial government.
The final results showed Michael Elliott leading in Ward pihêsiwin and Ashley Salvador emerging victorious in Ward Métis. The ballot counting process took place at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Centre on Stony Plain Road.
Overall, candidates expressed concerns about the impact of the hand-counting mandate and called for a review of the electoral procedures to address issues raised during the recent municipal election in Edmonton.