Like many journalists, I specialize in leaving things to the last minute.

So, at 10:20 on Friday morning, I finally tried to get a special mail-in ballot for the big referendum set for Oct. 19.

Braid: Elections Alberta is gaining ground on huge referendum challenge Back to video

The cutoff for requesting mail-in ballots was midnight Friday.

I could have applied online but chose to call the number, 1‑877‑672‑1365.

A friendly agent came on the line in four minutes. He took my details, gave me a confirmation number, and we were done.

Total time: eight minutes.

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Hopefully, the ballot package will arrive in short order.

Your mileage may differ. My point here is that Elections Alberta has been pounded with criticism, much of it in this column, but is also doing many things right.

There are weird glitches, to be sure. One is mail-in packages arriving without a ballot sheet for question 10, the crucial one on separation.

I spoke to a woman who applied three weeks ago. When her package finally showed up, the only question that........

© Calgary Herald