Election Canada said in elections on Monday that voters will have to write in the upcoming Battle River-Cruise by-election in Alberta, for whom they are voting.
It comes after the time limit for the candidates to enter. More than 200 signed up, mostly a movement due to a movement called the longest ballot committee, which took the initiative held in the riding during the April federal election and was lost by Conservative Leader Pierre Pilevere.
The goal for the group is to change which decides on election laws. It wants a citizen’s assembly in charge of preparing a new electoral system, arguing that political parties are reluctant to make the government a more representative of diverse voters.
Along with the conservative leader, the list includes Liberal candidate Darcy Spedie, NDP’s Catherine Swampi, a joint party from Canada, a Libeterian party from a Canadian candidate and a Christian heritage party from a Canadian candidate.
Election Canada says that a list of names of all candidates will be available at polling places on the day of election. Voters will have to write the name of the candidate they are voting – not a party – which will be counted in front of a witness.
All equal safety and integrity measures found on a specific ballot will still be used.
A complete list of candidates will be supplied to voters in the August 18 vote of Battle River-Krufoot, Election Canada said, and each customized ballot that clearly names a candidate, and not a party, will be counted in front of a witness.
For people requiring accessibility tools, they will still be available. Election Canada says that some of those equipment, such as a candidate list and voting templates in Braille, will be available only on election days.
The vote was called after losing the Ottawa-region ride of Carlton in the April election of this year. The ballot was long of 91 candidates, which was spread around one meter. If the current one in the battle River-Crawfoot proceeded, the ballot would have been at least two meters long.
Conservative MP Demian Currak stepped down to allow the poolvare to run.
Residents of the ride, who extend to the southern parts of the province from the Central Alberta-Suskechewan border, are the heads of the election on 18 August. Applying to vote by mail-in voting is available till August 12.
Lawrin Hintz and Canadian Press with files
