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With a record number of 214 candidates for a single-seat by-election, Elections Canada has opted to “adapt ballot paper,” wherein the voters would be required to write the name of the candidate they want to vote for.

Nominations for the Battle River-Crowfoot by-election closed yesterday. The Leader of the Opposition, Pierre Poilievre, along with candidates of nine other registered parties, including the ruling Liberals, NDP, Green, Centrist, United, Libertarian, Christian Heritage, Peoples’, and Marijuana, are contesting this by-election. They have been joined by 204 independent candidates.

Never before in history have so many candidates been on the ballot paper of a single-seat election anywhere in the world.

This will be the first by-election of its kind where, instead of a traditional single printed ballot paper, an adapted blank ballot paper will be used to cast votes. It has also stirred an animated debate on whether, in a democracy, the number of contestants or candidates could be restricted to minimise the logistics or issues related to the size of the ballot paper or the subsequent processes, including the casting and counting of votes.

Though there are several technicalities involved in using the “adapted ballot paper,” a blank paper that will feature blank space where electors would be required to write the name of their preferred candidate.

Since there is a record high number of candidates—214in all, including 10 of registered parties—in Battle River-Crowfoot (Alberta), electors voting at advance or election day polls will vote using an adapted ballot.

The adapted ballot will replace the typical list-style ballot, on which electors mark a blank circle next to the name of the candidate of their choice. For their vote to be counted, electors must write the name of their candidate of choice. As long as the elector's intention is clear, their vote will be counted, even if they misspell the candidate's name.

Along with the candidate's name, electors can also write the name of the candidate's political party. But if the elector writes only the party's name, their ballot cannot be counted—it must have the name of the elector's preferred candidate.

An unprecedented situation has been created by the ongoing campaign of the Longest Ballot Committee (LBC), spearheading a campaign for reforms in the election process in Canada.

The LBC had successfully created a record in the last federal elections in April this year when it managed to put up more than 80 candidates as Independents, with the ballot stretched to a record length with 91 names on it.

Since the number of candidates for Battle River-Crowfoot has crossed the 200 mark, Elections Canada has come out in favour of using an adapted ballot paper.

The list of all eligible candidates will be available at every voting table so that electors can find the name of their candidate of choice. The adapted write-in ballot will feature the same security and integrity measures found on a typical ballot, Elections Canada said in a press statement.

It says, Elections Canada is aware that the changes to the ballot may reduce its accessibility for some electors. All regular accessibility tools will still be available, but some of them, such as the braille list of candidates and adapted braille voting template, will only be available on election day (Monday, August 18)” and those who may have any concerns could contact Elections Canada to find out what options and accessibility supports are available to them.

It further says that “Electors who need support when voting are welcome to bring a friend, family member, or caregiver to assist them, including helping them to complete their ballot. Election workers, who are sworn to maintain the secrecy of the vote, are also available to help.

“Elections Canada reminds electors in Battle River-Crowfoot that they may vote by special ballot at the local Elections Canada office. They can also apply online to vote by mail, or they can apply by mail or by fax. They have until Tuesday, August 12, 6 p.m., to do so.

“Because of the large number of candidates, the results of the by-election in Battle River-Crowfoot may take longer to report and publish on elections.ca,” it said.

This will be the first by-election of its kind where, instead of a traditional single printed ballot paper, an adapted blank ballot paper will be used to cast votes. It has also stirred an animated debate on whether, in a democracy, the number of contestants or candidates could be restricted to minimise the logistics or issues related to the size of the ballot paper or the subsequent processes, including the casting and counting of votes.