Voters in Terrebonne, Quebec, face an unprecedented challenge in the upcoming April 13th byelection. Instead of selecting from a list of names on a traditional ballot, they will be asked to *write in* their preferred candidate – a consequence of an extraordinary surge in nominations.
A staggering 48 candidates have been confirmed for the riding, a situation orchestrated by a group known as the Longest Ballot Committee. Rather than accommodate this immense field on a standard ballot, Elections Canada has opted for an “adapted” ballot, mirroring a similar scenario in Alberta last year where Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre faced over 200 opponents.
This isn’t a random occurrence. The Longest Ballot Committee has been deliberately flooding federal elections and byelections with candidates since 2021. Their actions are a pointed protest against Canada’s electoral system and a demand for proportional representation – a system where a party’s share of seats reflects its share of the popular vote.
Despite the unusual process, Elections Canada assures voters their voices will be heard. Even with misspellings, a vote will be counted “as long as your intention is clear.” However, simply writing a party name won’t suffice; voters must specify a candidate’s name, and lists will be provided in alphabetical and party-affiliated order at each polling station.
The byelection was triggered by a Supreme Court of Canada ruling. A previous one-vote victory by Liberal Tatiana Auguste was invalidated due to an error in the handling of mail-in ballots. Auguste is running again, alongside her Bloc Québécois challenger, Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné, and the other candidates from the last general election.
Similar byelections are taking place in Toronto, but with far fewer candidates. The sheer number in Terrebonne is expected to delay the reporting of results. Elections Canada has warned voters to anticipate a longer wait for the final tally on elections.ca.
The unusual situation has sparked a response from Parliament. A committee studying the impact of the Longest Ballot Committee is urging changes to the Elections Act to prevent such ballot-flooding tactics in the future. They propose limiting the number of nomination papers an individual can sign and, crucially, restricting how many candidates a single person can act as official agent for.
Currently, one individual, Tomas Szuchewycz, has served as the official agent for hundreds of protest candidates in recent elections. While this tactic wasn’t fully employed in Terrebonne, the committee argues that allowing one agent to represent multiple competing candidates creates an inherent conflict of interest.
The committee’s report also investigated allegations of improper nomination practices, including claims that the Longest Ballot Committee collected signatures on incomplete nomination forms. Szuchewycz vehemently denies these accusations, claiming the committee was misled by biased sources.
Approximately 18,000 complaints were filed with election officials regarding the Committee’s activities during the last general election. Despite the scrutiny, Szuchewycz remains defiant, stating the group is prepared to adapt to any new restrictions imposed.
Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon is scheduled to announce proposed amendments to the Elections Act aimed at safeguarding Canada’s democratic processes. These changes are expected to address the loopholes exploited by the Longest Ballot Committee and prevent similar disruptions in future elections.
