Over 200 Candidates Sign Up for Poilievre’s Byelection, Breaking Records

More than 200 candidates have registered to run in the upcoming Battle River-Crowfoot federal byelection, set for August 18, 2025. This number, more than double the previous record, has sparked a lot of attention and raised questions about electoral reform in Canada.

Record-Breaking Number of Candidates

As of July 27, 2025, 209 candidates are running in the byelection, including just seven from political parties. Most are independents, with many linked to the Longest Ballot Committee, which advocates for electoral reform.

The committee wants a citizens’ assembly to handle electoral reform, arguing that political parties have been hesitant to make elections more representative. By fielding so many candidates, they aim to raise awareness and urge lawmakers to make changes.

Poilievre’s Return to Parliament

The byelection was called after Damien Kurek, the Conservative MP for Battle River-Crowfoot, resigned following the April 2025 general election. Kurek stepped down to let Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre try to return to the House of Commons after losing his Carleton seat.

The riding has always been Conservative, and Poilievre hopes to win the seat and return to the House.

What is the Longest Ballot Committee?

The Longest Ballot Committee has organized similar efforts in the past, including the Carleton byelection and LaSalle-Émard-Verdun in 2024. By gathering a large number of candidates, the group aims to highlight what they perceive as flaws in Canada’s electoral system.

This strategy has led to ballots of exceptional length, with the Carleton byelection ballot measuring almost a meter long due to the large number of candidates. In some cases, this has caused delays in vote counting and confusion for voters.

Poilievre Criticizes the “Scam”

As the number of candidates in the Battle River-Crowfoot byelection rose to 209, Poilievre criticized the ballot stunt. He called it a “deliberate attempt to manipulate the rules” and a “blatant abuse” of the electoral system. He has urged the government to pass a law limiting the number of candidates and preventing people from signing multiple nomination papers.

Poilievre’s criticism follows the Liberal government and Elections Canada exploring reforms to stop “long ballot” protests. Elections Canada is working on ways to handle future elections with an unusually high number of candidates.

What’s Next for Battle River-Crowfoot?

The final list of candidates will be released after the July 28, 2025 nomination deadline. Voters will cast their ballots on August 18. Poilievre, under intense scrutiny due to the large number of candidates, hopes to win in this key Alberta riding.

Do you think the large number of candidates is an effective way to push for electoral reform? How should Canada address the challenges posed by long ballots? Share your thoughts below.

More…

• https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/over-200-candidates-on-single-ballot-byelection-canadian-history-1.7592185
• https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/list-of-candidates-running-in-pierre-poilievre-byelection-passes-200
• https://www.policymagazine.ca/pierre-poilievre-vs-the-longest-ballot-committee