India, Oct. 20 -- Voters in Canada's oil-rich Alberta province have overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to begin the legal process that could eventually lead to a referendum on separation from Canada, delivering a major victory for Prime Minister Mark Carney and supporters of national unity.

Unofficial results from Elections Alberta showed about 76% of voters chose for Alberta to remain a province of Canada, while nearly 24% backed starting the constitutional process for a future binding referendum on separation. More than 1.5 million votes had been counted by Tuesday. The official results are due on October 29.

The October 19 vote was not itself a referendum on independence. Under the question approved for the ballot, Albertans were ask...