first past the post voting across the province. Ruzycki was subsequently defeated by Social Credit candidate Alex Gordey in 1959. After Gordey's first term, Vegreville was merged with Bruce, and he chose to run again in the new riding of Vegreville-Bruce. He served two terms there, and Vegreville was reinstated in 1971. Running again in Vegreville, Gordey would be defeated along with Harry Strom's government by the Progressive Conservatives. John Batiuk won the seat by a significant margin, and went on to serve four terms, becoming the longest-serving MLA in the district's history. When Batiuk chose not to run again in 1986, the open seat was picked up by New Democrat Derek Fox. He served two terms until the riding was abolished in 1993, and was defeated by future premier Ed Stelmach in the new riding of Vegreville-Viking. As of 2016, Fox is the last Alberta New Democrat to have held a rural seat for two successive terms. Election results 1900s |} 1910s |} |} 1920s |} For the 1926 election, the United Farmers government introduced alternative vote in rural constituencies. Three counts were necessary in Vegreville, as Matheson failed to win a majority on the first or second round. |- !colspan=6|Second count |colspan=2|Neither |align=right|486 |} Final round swing represents gain from the first round. Overall swing is calculated from first preferences. 1930s |} |} The source records a second count between McPherson and Gordon despite McPherson's majority result. This may be the result of an archiving error. 1940s |- !colspan=6|Second count |colspan=2|Neither |align=right|230 |} |- !colspan=6|Second count |colspan=2|Neither |align=right|417 |} |} 1950s |- !colspan=6|Second count |colspan=2|Neither |align=right|648 |} |- !colspan=6|Second count |colspan=2|Neither |align=right|395 |} After the 1955 election, the Social Credit government abolished alternative vote in rural districts and reintroduced first past the post. Vegreville was therefore won without a majority on the first round in 1959, and this change can also be seen in the dramatic drop in spoiled (incorrectly marked) ballots. |} 1971 general election 1975 general election 1979 general election 1982 general election 1986 general election 1989 general election Plebiscite results 1957 liquor plebiscite On October 30, 1957 a stand-alone plebiscite was held province wide in all 50 of the then current provincial electoral districts in Alberta. The government decided to consult Alberta voters to decide on liquor sales and mixed drinking after a divisive debate in the Legislature. The plebiscite was intended to deal with