Sonya Sharp requests recount in Calgary’s razor-thin mayoral race

Calgary mayoral candidate Sonya Sharp has formally requested a recount following her narrow loss to Jeromy Farkas in Monday’s municipal election.

Source: Facebook

Calgary mayoral candidate Sonya Sharp has formally requested a recount following her narrow loss to Jeromy Farkas in Monday’s municipal election. The two were separated by just 585 votes, a margin of 0.16 per cent.

Sharp, who led the Communities First Party and was endorsed by the Calgary Police Association, made the announcement Tuesday afternoon on X.

“Thank you to every Calgarian who voted. With a margin of just 585 votes (0.16%), I will be requesting a recount to ensure every ballot is properly counted. Win or lose, I am grateful for the opportunity and will fully accept the outcome — because every voice matters,” Sharp wrote.

In an attached statement, Sharp confirmed she has requested the chief returning officer undertake a recount of the Oct. 20 municipal election under the Local Authorities Election Act.

“To every Calgarian who voted in the advanced polls and on election day, regardless of who you voted for, you have my heartfelt thanks,” Sharp said. “People stood in line for, in some cases, hours and in some cases outdoors on a frosty fall evening to exercise their franchise in our municipal election. That is the very foundation of our government, its strength and the source of legitimacy for all that comes from City Hall. And every one of those votes deserves to be appropriately accounted for.”

While the votes in Edmonton still have not been tallied completely by Wednesday morning, Calgarian election volunteers may have had a late night on Monday as the results were reported from every polling station by Tuesday morning.

Sharp said the request is not meant as a criticism of Calgary’s election staff but as a precaution given the slim difference in votes.

“Yesterday was challenging for our election workers — long lines, new procedures, and hand-counting ballots well into the early hours of the morning. This request is by no means a criticism of their hard work. Instead, it suggests that mistakes can occur during stressful situations. Given the razor-thin margin of victory in this election, it makes ample sense to review and double-check that appropriate processes were followed, and the count is accurate,” she said.

Under Alberta’s Local Authorities Election Act, candidates may request a recount if the difference between the top two candidates is within 0.5 per cent of the total ballots cast. The request must be submitted within 72 hours after official results are declared. It can only be made by the candidate with the second-highest number of votes or their agent.

Elections Calgary’s guidelines state that affected candidates must receive 12 hours’ notice before the recount begins, and that the recount will be conducted using the same procedures as on election day.

Candidates, their agents or scrutineers are encouraged to attend and observe.

As of Tuesday morning, unofficial results show Farkas with 91,071 votes (26.12 per cent) and Sharp with 90,488 (25.95 per cent) — a difference of 583 votes out of 348,650 cast. Official results are expected by noon on Friday, after which Sharp’s recount request may be submitted and formally reviewed under Alberta’s Local Authorities Election Act.

Sharp said she will not issue further comments until the recount process is complete.

“I am happy to accept the outcome of this review, win or lose, because the final word of our citizens is what matters most in local government,” she concluded.