August 11, 2025
RED FM News Desk
Advanced voting wraps up Monday night in a historic Alberta byelection for the Battle River–Crowfoot riding, where over 200 candidates are on the ballot, including Conservative Party of Canada leader Pierre Poilievre.
Poilievre, who lost his long-held Ottawa-area seat of Carleton in April’s federal election, is seeking a return to Parliament after Conservative MP Damien Kurek resigned to allow him to run.
Most candidates are members of the Longest Ballot Committee, a protest group pushing for electoral reform.
The group staged a similar campaign in April in Poilievre’s former riding, where the ballot listed 91 names. If printed, the current Battle River–Crowfoot ballot would be nearly two metres long.
For the first time, Elections Canada is requiring voters to write the name of their chosen candidate on a blank ballot, rather than marking an “X.” A full list of candidates will be available at polling stations, and votes will be counted in front of a witness.
The riding spans from the Alberta–Saskatchewan border to southern Alberta. In April’s general election, Kurek won the seat with more than 82% of the vote. Residents will cast their ballots on Aug. 18, in what’s shaping up to be a uniquely high-profile contest.
Loading ...
