214 candidates on Battle River-Crowfoot ballot
Advance polls have opened for the federal by-election in the Battle River-Crowfoot riding.
For the first time, Elections Canada will require voters to fill out a blank ballot. There are 214 candidates on the ballot, making this by-election one of the most diverse in our history. Many candidates are connected to the Longest Ballot Committee, which advocates for changes to improve Canada’s electoral system.
Due to the high number of candidates in the upcoming Battle River-Crow- foot by-election, ballots had to be redesigned.
Prime Minister Mark Carney called this by-election in June after Conservative Damien Kurek resigned. Kurek won decisively in the April general election but stepped down to let Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre run in this by-election. Poilievre, who lost his seat in Carleton in the April 28, 2025 election, is eager to return to politics.
Some of the candidates include Liberal Darcy Spady, NDP’s Katherine Swampy, and Independent Bonnie Critchley.
Due to the high number of candidates, Elections Canada will change the ballot design. Voters will write the name of their chosen candidate in a blank space. Misspelling is okay; your vote will still count! Matthew McKenna from Elections Canada says it’s crucial to include the candidate’s name to validate the ballot, but mentioning a political party is optional. To make voting accessible, large-print lists of candidates will be at polling stations, along with magnifiers and large-grip pencils for those who need help. Poll workers have received extra training and are ready to assist voters.
Poilievre raised concerns about the longest ballot initiative, recalling when over 90 candidates appeared on the ballot in Carleton. He said, “I admire those who want to run for office, but it’s important for the election process to be clear and simple for all voters, especially those with vision impairments or age-related difficulties.”
Election day is Monday, August 18, from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. (local time).