【CCTVMEDIUM NEWS】A record-breaking number of candidates have registered for the upcoming federal byelection in Alberta’s Battle River–Crowfoot riding, scheduled for August 18, 2025. More than 100 individuals are now on the ballot—setting a new national record for the largest number of candidates in a single Canadian election.
The byelection was triggered by the resignation of former Conservative MP Damien Kurek, who stepped down to allow party leader Pierre Poilievre a path to seek a seat in the House of Commons.
The surge in candidates is largely attributed to the efforts of a grassroots advocacy group known as the Longest Ballot Committee. The organization opposes Canada’s current First-Past-the-Post electoral system and is campaigning for reform by encouraging “placeholder” candidacies aimed at drawing public attention to the issue. As of July 18, 108 candidates have officially registered, surpassing the previous record of 91 candidates in Ontario’s Carleton riding in a similar campaign.
The Committee has stated its ambition to attract over 200 candidates in total, thereby creating what it calls “the longest ballot in history” to illustrate perceived flaws in the electoral system.
Reactions have been mixed. Supporters praise the movement as a creative democratic protest, while critics argue that excessively long ballots risk confusing voters and undermining the electoral process. Elections Canada has responded by assuring the public that it is fully prepared to manage the logistics, noting that technical and printing procedures have been pre-planned to ensure a fair and timely vote.（LJI by Rudy)
