Edmonton (provincial Electoral District)

Edmonton (provincial Electoral District)

Edmonton provincial electoral district existed in two incarnations from 1905 - 1909 and again from 1921 - 1955. The district was created when Alberta first became a province. It was only one of two multi member ridings in the provinces history, the other being Calgary.

Three methods of electing representatives were used over the years. First past the post was used in 1905 and subsequent by-elections. Block vote was used in 1909 and 1921, and single transferable vote from 1926 to 1955 when the United Farmers of Alberta made the electoral system mandatory for Calgary and Edmonton.

During the election of 1917 three electoral districts existed in Edmonton, Edmonton East, Edmonton West. and Edmonton South which was created in 1913. All three of these districts merged to reform the Edmonton Riding in 1921.

In 1959 the Social Credit government broke up the Calgary and Edmonton ridings and standardized first past the post across the province. Nine ridings were created in Edmonton: Edmonton Centre, Edmonton North, Edmonton Norwood, Edmonton North East, Edmonton North West, Jasper West, Strathcona Centre, Strathcona East and Strathcona West.