As Canadians gear up for the April 28 federal election, the Carleton riding is making headlines for an entirely different reason — its record-breaking ballot.
In what’s shaping up to be the longest federal ballot in Canadian history, voters in the Ottawa-area Carleton riding will be choosing from a jaw-dropping 91 candidates — a number never before seen in a general election.
The Why Behind the Wild Numbers
So, who’s behind the ballooning ballot?
A group calling itself the Longest Ballot Committee is taking credit. In a final-day filing frenzy, they registered 85 candidates, all independents, and all backed by a single official agent — Tomas Szuchewycz. Their mission? To spark debate around Canada’s first-past-the-post voting system and highlight the need for electoral reform.
But not everyone is impressed.
“This feels more like disruption than dialogue,” said one political analyst. “It’s not clear how bloating the ballot contributes to meaningful reform.”
Logistics Nightmare Ahead?
With ballots now expected to reach nearly a metre in length, Elections Canada is warning voters — and poll workers — to prepare for delayed results, especially in this high-stakes riding.
In past elections where ballots swelled to over 80 names, final results weren’t announced until 2:45 a.m. or later. Carleton could see a similar scenario.
“Due to the unusual circumstances… Carleton results will likely take longer to report,” Elections Canada said in a statement.
To speed things up, the agency is considering early advance poll counting, deploying extra staff, and conducting additional training to manage the logistical challenge.
Meet the Real Contenders
While the ballot is crowded, the actual competitive race still centers on six key candidates not affiliated with the protest:
- Pierre Poilievre (Conservative Leader) – Incumbent since 2004
- Bruce Fanjoy (Liberal)
- Beth Prokaska (NDP)
- Mark Watson (Green Party)
- Karen Bourdeau (United Party of Canada)
- Shawn MacEachern (Canada Future Party)
With Poilievre’s once-comfortable lead showing signs of slippage in recent polls, many are watching Carleton closely to see if his hold on the riding could actually be at risk.
Democracy or Distraction?
While the Longest Ballot Committee defends their move as a peaceful protest, critics argue it creates accessibility issues, delays counting, and complicates an already complex election.
“It forces a smaller font and longer voting times, which can be problematic for some voters,” said Chief Electoral Officer Stéphane Perrault.
Still, under Canadian law, it’s all perfectly legal: any citizen over 18 can run for office with 100 valid signatures. And an official agent can represent more than one candidate.
Why This Race Matters
The Carleton riding — long considered a Conservative stronghold — is under the microscope as national momentum shifts, especially with Mark Carney’s Liberals gaining ground and Trump-era trade tensions looming.
As one analyst put it:
“This isn’t just about Carleton. It’s a litmus test for Pierre Poilievre’s leadership under pressure.”
Mark Your Calendars
Advance voting: April 18–21
Election Day: April 28
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