A public advocacy group is taking legal action over the way the 2008 Alberta election was run.

Larry Booi, president of Public Interest Alberta, says a court declaration might convince the provincial government to make much-needed changes to how elections are run. (CBC)"People in a great many organizations are deeply troubled by the democratic deficit and we want to see some kind of a remedy," said Larry Booi, president of Public Interest Alberta.

"We weren't seeing a remedy coming from the legislature and the government, so we're going to have to go to the courts and seek a judicial remedy."

The action follows a 595-page report by Alberta's former chief electoral officer that called for changes to the province's elections laws. The 2008 election had the lowest voter turnout in Alberta history.

In his report, Lorne Gibson recommended extending voting hours, offering more advance voting days and giving the chief electoral officer the power to appoint impartial returning officers.

Gibson's contract was not renewed last spring.

"We're not seeking to overturn or make any changes in the last election," said Grant Dunlop, an Edmonton lawyer who volunteered to take the case forward. The goal is to prod the province into making changes in the way elections are run, he said.

'Huge lineups, people sent to the wrong places'

"We had huge lineups, we had people sent to the wrong places, we had political appointees as returning officers, and so what we're hoping to do with this court action is to achieve a declaration that will prevent a mess the next time," he said.

The declaration, if granted, will not be binding on the government.

At a news conference Monday, Liberal MLA Kevin Taft insisted the court action is not about politics, but about the right to vote.

"The issues cover the whole province, they cover all voters, they cover all parties,' he said. "For vast numbers of people, that right [to vote] was impaired and that's wrong, it's as simple as that," he said.