The trip to the polls for Albertans last spring was, according to Elections Alberta, our most expensive election ever.

It cost taxpayers $13.6 million for what turned out to be one of the most hotly contested votes in decades. In addition, the province shelled out another $2.1 million for the Senate nominee ballot.

The total tab for the two votes:  $15.7 million.

The $13.6 million tab for the provincial election compares to the $9.9 million bill for the 2008 provincial vote.

In Saturday’s Calgary Herald, a spokesperson for Elections Alberta blames the huge increase on a growing population as well as inflationary costs for election materials, supplies and staff.