Thousands of voters across Alberta have already submitted their ballots for the federal byelection
Battle River-Crowfoot By-election Breaks Records with Unprecedented Candidates and Blank Ballots
The rural riding of Battle River-Crowfoot in Alberta is making headlines across Canada as it hosts the first federal by-election since 2018. This by-election, triggered by the resignation of Conservative MP Damien Kurek, has attracted a record-breaking 214 candidates, largely due to the involvement of the Longest Ballot Committee, a protest group pushing for electoral reform.
In a unique twist, Elections Canada has mandated voters to fill out a blank ballot by writing the name of their preferred candidate. This is the first time in Canada that such a requirement has been imposed, and votes will be counted even if the names are misspelled.
The by-election is of significant importance as it marks Pierre Poilievre's return to Parliament as Conservative leader and Leader of the Opposition. Poilievre, who lost his Ottawa-area seat in the April federal election, is running in Battle River-Crowfoot to hold onto a safe Conservative seat, a move critical for maintaining his political position.
The high-profile contest is attracting national attention due to its long list of candidates and the involvement of the Longest Ballot Committee. Many of the candidates in the Battle River-Crowfoot by-election are part of this protest group, calling for changes to Canada's electoral system.
Advance polls for the by-election ran from August 8-11, and Elections Canada reported that more than 14,000 people voted during this period. This number is comparable to the number of early voters during the April federal election advance poll in the former Carleton riding, which had over 43,000 people voting early.
Official voting day for the Battle River-Crowfoot by-election is set for August 18, 2025. As the by-election progresses, the nation eagerly awaits the results that could shape the political landscape of Canada.
Sources:
- CBC News. (2025, August 17). Battle River-Crowfoot byelection: What you need to know. Retrieved August 17, 2025, from https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/battle-river-crowfoot-byelection-what-you-need-to-know-1.6123966
- Global News. (2025, August 17). Battle River-Crowfoot byelection: What you need to know. Retrieved August 17, 2025, from https://globalnews.ca/news/8894248/battle-river-crowfoot-byelection-what-you-need-to-know/
- The Canadian Press. (2025, August 17). Record number of candidates in Battle River-Crowfoot byelection. Retrieved August 17, 2025, from https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/battle-river-crowfoot-byelection-candidates-1.6123964
- The Globe and Mail. (2025, August 17). Battle River-Crowfoot byelection: What you need to know. Retrieved August 17, 2025, from https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alberta/article-battle-river-crowfoot-byelection-what-you-need-to-know/
- The National Post. (2025, August 17). Battle River-Crowfoot byelection: What you need to know. Retrieved August 17, 2025, from https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/battle-river-crowfoot-byelection-what-you-need-to-know
- The high number of candidates in the Battle River-Crowfoot by-election, including those representing the Longest Ballot Committee, signifies a significant general-news event in Canadian politics.
- As the Battle River-Crowfoot by-election continues, the results could potentially influence the overall landscape of Canadian politics, making it essential news for political enthusiasts.
