Polling stations open for Alberta's by-election, featuring a record-breaking 214 contenders, including potential empty ballots.
In an extraordinary move, voters in the federal by-election for Alberta's Battle River-Crowfoot are being asked to write the name of their chosen candidate on a blank ballot by hand. This unusual system has been adopted due to the record-breaking number of candidates - a staggering 214 - making a traditional printed ballot impractical.
To assist voters, the official list of candidates will be available at the polling stations. Voters are encouraged to check the list carefully to ensure they spell the names correctly. It is crucial to note that votes will only be counted if the individual candidate's name is written, and not the party name.
The voting process will be overseen by poll workers who have received extra training to assist electors with ballots. To ensure transparency and validity, votes will be counted in front of a witness. Elections Canada has also made some exceptions to its regular ballot, using adapted ballots with two columns in elections with a high number of candidates.
This write-in candidate voting method is rare in Canada and follows protest actions by the Longest Ballot Committee, a group advocating for changes to Canada's electoral system. Notably, Pierre Poilievre, who recently lost his long-held Ottawa seat of Carleton, mentioned that more than 90 candidates were on the ballot during his campaign.
In the Battle River-Crowfoot by-election, voters will find several candidates on the ballot, including Liberal candidate Darcy Spady, NDP's Katherine Swampy, and Independent Bonnie Critchley, among others. The majority of candidates are part of the Longest Ballot Committee.
The counting process for this by-election will be different, with Elections Canada requiring voters to fill out a blank ballot. To facilitate the process, magnifiers and large-grip pencils will be provided.
This report was first published on August 8, 2025, by The Canadian Press. Voters are reminded to check their registration and eligibility before participating in the by-election, which is scheduled for August 18, 2025, with advance voting and special ballot options available as usual.
Pierre Poilievre, who previously held the seat, expressed frustration with the Longest Ballot Committee, claiming they aim to confuse the voting process. However, he did not express any issues with candidates running for office. The former seat holder, Damien Kurek, stepped down to allow Poilievre to run.
Voters are encouraged to exercise their right to vote and participate in this historic by-election. The outcome of the election could significantly impact the political landscape in Alberta and Canada.
- In the aftermath of Pierre Poilievre's loss in Carleton, where over 90 candidates were on the ballot, the discussion about Canada's electoral system has taken a new turn, with war-and-conflicts in the form of protest actions by the Longest Ballot Committee.
- In the upcoming Battle River-Crowfoot by-election, with a record-breaking number of candidates, general-news outlets are emphasizing the importance of paying attention to the news, as voters will need to write the names of their chosen candidates on blank ballots, a strategy rarely seen in Canada.
