EDMONTON — Voters head to the polls today to pick a new legislature representative in Lethbridge-West.

The legislature seat was left vacant after NDP MLA Shannon Phillips resigned July 1.

Early numbers from Elections Alberta show 18 per cent of the 37,000 eligible voters have cast advance votes, down from 28 per cent in the 2023 general election.

Three candidates are vying for the seat: the NDP’s Rob Miyashiro, the United Conservatives’ John Middleton-Hope and the Alberta Party’s Layton Veverka.

The UCP has 49 seats in the 87-seat legislature compared with 37 for the NDP.

The riding has been held by the New Democrats since 2015, and the byelection will be the first test of the party’s appeal under new leader Naheed Nenshi.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 18, 2024.

Lisa Johnson, The Canadian Press