August 8, 2025
RED FM New Desk
Advance polls open today in a historic federal byelection for Alberta’s Battle River–Crowfoot, where voters will face an unprecedented task: filling out a completely blank ballot.
Elections Canada says it’s the first time in Canadian history that electors must handwrite the name of their chosen candidate, due to a record-setting 214 contenders running in the rural riding. Voting day is set for Aug. 18.
Most of the candidates are linked to the Longest Ballot Committee, a protest group advocating for changes to Canada’s electoral system.
Prime Minister Mark Carney called the byelection in June after Conservative MP Damien Kurek—who easily retained the seat in April’s general election—resigned to allow Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to run. Poilievre, however, had lost his long-held Ottawa riding of Carleton.
Other notable names on the ballot include Liberal candidate Darcy Spady, the NDP’s Katherine Swampy, and Independent Bonnie Critchley.
Elections Canada has used adapted ballots with two columns in past races with large candidate lists, but in this case, voters must clearly write the candidate’s name in the blank space provided.
“Their vote will be counted even if the candidate’s name is misspelled,” said Elections Canada spokesperson Matthew McKenna. “They can also write the political party’s name alongside the candidate’s. But if they only list a party name, the ballot will be rejected.”
Large-print lists of candidates will be posted at polling stations, and voters will have access to magnifiers and large-grip pencils to help them fill out their ballots.
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