A Record Number of Candidates Force Unique Voting Procedure in Upcoming By-Election

Elections Canada has announced a unique voting procedure for an upcoming by-election. For the first time, voters will be required to fill out a blank ballot. This unusual measure is due to the unprecedented number of candidates running in the rural riding, with the election scheduled for August 18th.

The majority of the 214 candidates are affiliated with the Longest Ballot Committee, a protest group advocating for changes to Canada's electoral system. The by-election was called by Prime Minister Mark Carney in June, following the resignation of Conservative Damien Kurek, who had previously won the seat. This allowed Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to run.

The by-election also includes candidates from other major parties, such as Liberal candidate Darcy Spady and the NDP’s Katherine Swampy, as well as Independent Bonnie Critchley. Elections Canada has previously used adapted ballots with two columns in elections with a high number of candidates, but this by-election presents a different challenge.

Instead of simply marking an "x," voters will need to handwrite the name of their chosen candidate in a blank space on the ballot. According to agency spokesperson Matthew McKenna, votes will still be counted even if the candidate's name is misspelled. Voters can also include the political party affiliation, but the candidate's name is essential for the ballot to be valid.

To assist voters, a list of all candidates in large print will be available at polling stations. Magnifiers and large-grip pencils will also be provided. Poll workers have received additional training to help voters with the new ballot format, and the counting process will be adjusted accordingly.

Pierre Poilievre expressed his concerns about the longest-ballot initiative, citing his experience with a ballot featuring over 90 candidates in a previous election. He argued that the initiative aims to confuse voters and make it more difficult for those with vision problems, the elderly, and others to vote.