Sharp seeks recount after narrow Calgary mayoral race

A difference of just 583 votes separates Jeromy Farkas and Sonya Sharp in Calgary’s 2025 mayoral election, according to unofficial results. Sharp called the margin “razor-thin” and confirmed she intends to request a recount — a move Farkas says he supports.

However, recent changes to Alberta’s election laws have added complexity to how recounts are conducted, leaving uncertainty about how this one will unfold.

Sharp has two potential paths to pursue a recount.
The first, known as the quick-turn option, must occur within 44 hours of polls closing and can be initiated by the returning officer if there are reasonable grounds to believe a count error, ballot objection, or technical issue affected the outcome. That window has now closed.

The second option is a judicial recount, which can be requested within 19 days after voting ends. Once official results are declared — expected Friday — the runner-up also has 72 hours to apply for a recount if the margin is within 0.5 per cent of the total vote.

Calgary’s returning officer, Kate Martin, explained that even if the 0.5 per cent threshold is met, the recount would not necessarily cover the entire city. Instead, it would focus on specific polling stations where results were within that margin. “The law specifies recounts at the voting station level,” she said.

Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams noted that he had not yet received a legal briefing but said the intent of the legislation is to allow recounts in close races. He added that further discussions with Calgary’s election officials would help clarify how the rule should be interpreted.