Elections Alberta warns of alleged inappropriate distribution of electors list

In a statement issued Thursday morning, Elections Alberta said it has come to the agency’s attention that an inappropriate use and or distribution of the List of Electors may have occurred.

The list of electors contains electors’ first names, middle names, surnames, address, postal code, telephone number, unique identifier number, electoral division, and voting area.

“Despite our offices being legislatively prohibited from commenting about investigations we may or may not be conducting, Albertans should know that Elections Alberta takes this matter seriously,” Elections Alberta said Thursday.

“Due to the extremely sensitive nature of the information contained in the List of Electors, we believe it is critical for Albertans to be aware.

“Elections Alberta is taking every possible action to determine if this has taken place and, if so, to protect and recover the information.”

Elections Alberta is an independent, non-partisan office of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta responsible for administering provincial elections, byelections and referendums.

In the statement, the agency said no breach of the Elections Alberta databases or systems has occurred.

According to the statement, the alleged misuse of the elector list relates to use of the database by an individual or group who obtained the database legitimately.

Elections Alberta did not name the group or party that is involved in the alleged misuse of the database.

According to their statement, the “unfolding situation” is believed to involve a third party and inappropriate distribution of the list by a registered political party which gained access to the list legitimately.

CBC News has viewed an electors database posted online and has reached out to the organization that posted the database.

Elections Alberta officials went to Edmonton Court of King's Bench Thursday morning seeking an injunction to have the database pulled down.

According to Elections Alberta, recipients of the list must take all reasonable steps to protect the information from loss and unauthorized use.

“A person or MLA may NOT share the list or the information with anyone for any use not expressly authorized,” the statement reads.

The list can obtained by registered political parties, MLAs, candidates, election officers and constituency associations, for purposes outlined in legislation.

Third parties are not eligible to receive copies of the list of electors at any time, Elections Alberta said.

Elections Alberta said any person who contravenes the rules is guilty of an offence and liable to an administrative penalty of not more than $10,000 or, if convicted by a court, to imprisonment for a term of not more than one year or to both a fine and imprisonment.