Elections Canada Adopts Write-In Ballot for Alberta By-Election Due to Record Number of Candidates

In an upcoming Alberta by-election, where Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is running, voters will use a special write-in ballot due to a record number of 200+ candidates. The ballot will feature a blank space where voters can write in the name and party of their chosen candidate. A list of candidates will still be available at voting tables.

In the upcoming Alberta by-election for Battle River-Crowfoot, voters will be required to use a special write-in ballot due to an unprecedented number of candidates. With 209 candidates registered to run, including many associated with the Longest Ballot Committee, Elections Canada has implemented a unique voting system to accommodate the large number of participants [1].

The write-in ballot will feature a blank space where voters can write in the name and party of their chosen candidate. A full list of candidates will be available at polling stations to assist voters in making their selections. This approach replaces the traditional list-style ballot, where voters would mark a blank circle next to the candidate's name [1].

The use of write-in ballots is not uncommon in Canadian elections, typically used for voters casting their ballots outside of designated voting days, including at Elections Canada offices or via mail-in ballots. However, the scale of this by-election is exceptional, having more than doubled the previous record of 91 candidates [1].

Despite the switch to write-in ballots for the Aug. 18 byelection, Elections Canada has cautioned that there could still be delays in vote-counting due to the high number of candidates. In the past, the agency has had to make changes to accommodate massive ballots, such as early counting and bringing in extra workers [1].

This by-election is significant as it involves Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who lost his longtime Carleton riding in the April general election. The vote was triggered after MP Damien Kurek vacated his seat to allow Poilievre to rejoin the House of Commons [1].

The Longest Ballot Committee, a group of electoral reform advocates, has been organizing candidates to run in byelections in recent years to push for electoral reform. The committee aims to put a citizens' assembly in charge of electoral reform, arguing that political parties are too reluctant to make the government more representative of the electorate [1].

The upcoming by-election in Battle River-Crowfoot will be closely watched, not only for the outcome but also for how the new voting system handles the unprecedented number of candidates.

References:
[1] https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/elections-canada-longest-ballot-1.7595763