Camrose- Advance election in a historic federal by-election for Alberta’s Battle River-Craw up.
For the first time, the election Canada says that voters will have to file an empty turn.
The agency has listed a record 214 candidates running in rural ride, with polling day on August 18.
The majority are part of the longest ballot committee, calling a protest group for various changes in Canada’s electoral system.
Prime Minister Mark Carney called a by -election in June after Conservative Demian Curses, who won the seat in the April general election, so the conservative leader Pierre Pielevere could be run.
Polyre lost his long life Ottawa seat of Carlton.
The by -election also includes liberal candidate Darcy Spedi, NDP’s Catherine Swampi and independent Bonnie Crichale.
Election Canada says that there are some exceptions to its regular ballot. Customized ballot papers with two columns have been used with a high-to-normal number of candidates in elections.
In this by -election, it is not only marking an X. Voters should write their favorite candidate’s name in empty space.
Agency spokesperson Matthew McCena said, “His vote will be counted, even if he remembers the candidate’s name.”
“They can also include the name of a political party. However, if they only write the name of a political party, their ballot cannot be counted. The candidate’s name is to be there.”
He said that a list of all the candidates in the big print will be held at polling stations for voters for voters. The agency’s website also said that magnifiers and large gray pencils would be available.
Pole employees have been given additional training. McKenna said that there are ways that they can help voters, and the counting process will be different.
Polyre repeated her frustration with the longest ballot initiative on Thursday. More than 90 candidates were on the ballot when he fled in Carlton.
At an unrelated news conference in Calgary, he said, “I have no problem with anyone who wants to run to the office, even if they are not known or not rich.”
“But it’s not what these people are doing … They want to extend the ballot just to confuse the situation, make people difficult to vote. People with vision problems, elderly, others who now have difficulty, will have a difficult time.”
This report of Canadian Press was first published on August 8, 2025.
Fakiha Baig, Canadian Press