After months of campaigns and rallies, referendum day is here. Now it’s a matter of each side trying to mobilize their base to get out and vote. “Pretty much, it’s baked in the cake. I think most people know how they’re going to vote. The only question is, of course, to get out there and do it,” said retired University of Lethbridge professor of political science Trevor Harrison. While the “remain” side appears to be headed to victory, nothing is guaranteed. A low turnout on election day could swing the final vote more in favour of those wanting a binding separation referendum. “Many Albertans look at these polls and say it’s a pre-determined outcome, but it’s not,” said former Alberta premier Jason Kenney. But the separatist vote appears to be bolstered by voters just wanting to send a message to Ottawa. Polls suggest that a majority of those voting for option 2 may not actually want to leave Canada. “Polls are showing that about 60 per cent of the people who are planning to vote option 2 simply want to send a message to Ottawa,” said Mount Royal University political science professor Lori Williams. A large portion of eligible voters have already cast their ballots. Between mail-in ballots and advance polls, 43 per cent of eligible voters have voted. That’s more than 1.3 million votes cast. But the turnout on referendum day will be decisive. “The people who want to leave are fairly impassioned. They’re going to turn up anyway. But the concern for those on the “remain” side has always been, ‘Will people get a little too confident in the outcome and decide not to turn up?’” said Harrison.
