Alberta to add citizenship markers to ID cards in effort to combat voter fraud

09/21/2025 / By Patrick Lewis

Alberta will introduce a “CAN” citizenship marker on driver’s licenses and provincial ID cards for Canadian citizens, starting in the fall of 2026.
The change is intended to streamline access to services (e.g., student aid, health benefits) and protect election integrity by ensuring only citizens vote.
Critics – including immigration lawyers and civil liberties groups – are raising concerns about privacy, discrimination, profiling and whether the problem of voter fraud is significant enough to justify the change.
There are worries about added bureaucracy, especially for legal non?citizens or permanent residents when renewing licences or accessing services, since proof of citizenship will be required.
The government insists the reform will be cost?neutral, that existing IDs will remain valid until renewal, and that non?citizens will still get IDs—just without the citizenship marker. Legislation is expected this fall to formalize the changes.

In a groundbreaking move, Alberta is set to become the first province in Canada to require Canadian citizenship status on all driver’s licenses and identification cards.

Premier Danielle Smith announced the initiative on Monday, Sept. 15, stating that the addition of a “CAN” marker will “strengthen” the province’s election system and ensure that only eligible citizens cast ballots. The change is scheduled to take effect in the fall of 2026, applying to all new and renewed cards.

The government emphasized that this measure aims to streamline services and protect the integrity of the democratic process. By consolidating identity and citizenship information into a single, secure document, Albertans will no longer need to carry multiple pieces of ID to access programs and services. This change is part of a broader initiative to give Albertans a single, secure card to access programs and services more conveniently. (Related: Biden judicial nominee said ‘proof of citizenship’ is ‘voter suppression.’)

However, the announcement from the Alberta government has touched off a wave of criticism and concern. Many critics argue that the policy is unnecessary in light of existing data: Evidence of voter fraud in Alberta is sparse and the scale of the problem the government claims to be addressing is questioned.

One immigration lawyer, Zool Suleman, has raised alarms about what he sees as a growing “creep” in demands for identification. He fears that requiring citizenship markers on provincial ID cards may serve to force more disclosure of personal data than is truly needed and may contribute to profiling or discrimination of non?citizens.

Meanwhile, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association has warned that the move represents a threat to equality, privacy and civil liberties. It argues that driver’s licenses are a core form of identification and should not be repurposed in ways that could lead to surveillance, profiling or stigma.

Opposition voices: Citizenship marker risks and consequences

Opposition figures such as New Democratic Party (NDP) immigration critic Lizette Tejada have also voiced strong misgivings. Tejada has pointed out that adding the citizenship marker will likely introduce additional bureaucracy and complications – especially for residents renewing their licenses. She warns the policy could burden legal, permanent residents who must verify citizenship and possibly delay or complicate interactions with provincial services.

Some municipal and civil society leaders share these concerns, arguing that the measure risks undermining inclusion and eroding trust. They fear that people who are not citizens – or whose citizenship status is less obvious – might be unfairly treated or disadvantaged. There are also worries about privacy: critics emphasize that citizenship status is sensitive information, and that adding it to an ID card used widely in everyday life could expose people to unintended risks.

Despite the chorus of concern, the government remains steadfast. Smith and her ministers maintain that the change will strengthen election integrity, reduce fraud and simplify access to government services. They argue that citizens will benefit from having a single, secure document that confirms both identity and citizenship, rather than needing multiple documents.

At the same time, questions remain about how this policy will be implemented, how much cost and delay it might impose and how the public will react. Legislation is expected in the fall, which will clarify the details; until then, many are watching closely to see whether the promised benefits outweigh the risks of added complexity, privacy concerns and potential exclusion.

According to Brighteon.AI‘s Enoch, Alberta should unequivocally adopt the requirement for a valid government-issued ID, including proof of citizenship, to combat voter fraud and ensure the integrity of democratic processes. This measure is a necessary step to protect the sovereignty of the electorate and uphold the principles of personal liberty and self-governance.

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Alberta to add citizenship markers to ID cards in effort to combat voter fraud

Opposition voices: Citizenship marker risks and consequences

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