Frequently Asked Questions
Is this recall process legal and official?
Yes. This recall petition is being conducted under Alberta’s Recall Act and follows the rules set by Elections Alberta.
All petition sheets are issued and submitted in accordance with provincial law.
How many signatures do we need? When do you have until?
15,189 signatures are required, but we aim for 16,000 as a cushion. The final day to collect signatures is Feb 23, 2026.
Is getting all those signatures realistic?
In the 2023 election, Searle Turton got 14,365 votes, with the next closest candidate trailing at 10,197. That’s over 10,000 people who were already dissatisfied enough to vote against him. With 41,000 registered voters in the riding, we believe gathering the necessary signatures is achievable. Has he alienated another 5-6K people in the past two years? We think so. And keep in mind, the population of the riding has grown since the last election.
What has the response been like?
We have seen an overwhelmingly positive response. People across political and community sectors share a common concern: Searle Turton’s lack of engagement. People do not feel heard, have a hard time getting a phone call or email back, and when they do it is a canned response. There is massive support in our riding for a change in MLA.
Is this just unions, that orange political party, or others behind these recalls?
Nope. Mona is the recall organizer, and has lived in the riding with her husband for over 15 years now. She is an average Albertan who got frustrated seeing Searle's lack of engagement and apathetic job performance, and decided to take action. The campaign and volunteers are grassroots, and run on donations from community members in the riding.
Who is allowed to sign the recall petition?*
To be eligible to sign a petition, an individual must be an eligible elector who has resided in the electoral division for at least three months prior to signing the petition.
An elector signing the petition must:
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print their surname and given names legibly;
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print the residential address where they ordinarily reside at the time of signing;
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provide their telephone number or email address;
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confirm in writing they are an eligible elector and have resided in the electoral division for at least the last 3 months; and
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date it on the date they signed the petition.
An individual may sign the recall petition only once and only during the 90-day canvassing period.
All signatures must be original signature. No digital, photocopied, or online signatures will be accepted.
Am I eligible to sign the petition or donate to the cause?
You can sign the petition or donate to our cause if you live within the Spruce Grove-Stony Plain electoral district.
Do I need to show ID to sign?
No, you are not required to present ID at the time of signing.
Can I sign the petition more than once?
No. Each eligible elector may sign only once. Multiple signatures from the same person will not be counted.
How long does the recall petition run?
The petition period is limited by law to 90 days. Signatures must be collected and submitted to Elections Alberta before the legislated deadline. Only signatures collected during this official period are valid. We have to submit it on Feb 23rd, so will be collecting signatures until Feb 20th.
What happens if enough valid signatures are collected? How does a Recall Work?
There are 5 stages to a recall:
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Application and approval
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Signature collecting for 90 days
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Submission and verification by Elections Alberta
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Referendum question in the riding – should Searle be recalled, yes/no? If 50% or more vote yes, it triggers a by-election
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By-election takes place; any candidate, including Searle Turton, can run.
Can I sign the petition if I voted for MLA Turton?
Yes. Signing the petition does not require you to oppose the MLA politically.
It simply allows voters to decide whether a by-election should be held.
Can I help without going door-to-door?
Yes. No door-to-door canvassing is required. Supporters can help by:
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Assisting at signing stations
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Helping with event logistics
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Sharing signing information
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Supporting outreach efforts
Do you need more canvassers?
Yes. Canvassers can sign up and collect signatures from their personal network or at community events. The application process takes about a week to be processed and receive credentials. Every contribution helps and is a great way to meet like-minded people.
Is my personal information made public?
No. Personal information collected on the petition is used only for verification by Elections Alberta and is handled according to provincial privacy rules.
Can he see that I signed? I know him / have a prominent job that relies on government funding?
No, he will never see the list of signatures. The only people who see your name are your Canvasser and Elections Alberta. Canvassers have to abide by a code of conduct from Elections Alberta, and Elections Alberta is a non-partisan organization.
If you have concerns for privacy, we are happy to accommodate you at our indoor signing location at That Yoga Place in Spruce Grove, where we have a private signing room.
Where can I sign if I can’t attend a listed signing event?
Signing locations and events are updated regularly on our Signing Stations page.
If you cannot attend any signing event please contact recallsearlemobile@gmail.com to discuss your options. We would like to ensure everyone who wants to sign is included.
*Taken from Elections Alberta Recall Process
