Backgound: The Longest Ballot Committee’s campaign
The House procedures committee in Ottawa faced a charged exchange as MPs pressed Tomas Szuchewycz, an organizer with the Longest Ballot Committee, about the group’s role in flooding federal ridings with dozens of candidates in recent elections. The protesters contend that an independent, non-partisan body should oversee election rules, arguing that current MPs are inherently conflicted when writing the rules that govern their own contests.
The core demand: independent oversight of election rules
During the testimony, Szuchewycz framed the group’s mission as a safeguard against partisan manipulation of electoral processes. “The Longest Ballot Committee advocates that you MPs recuse yourself from writing the rules of your own elections,” he said, describing a push to establish an independent body to oversee electoral rules. The tactic has included organizing dozens of Independent candidates to run in various ridings since 2021, an effort intended to spotlight how long ballots can affect voter experience and outcomes.
Recent activity and its effects on the ballot
In the 2024-2025 period, the campaign drew attention in Ontario’s Carleton, where more than 90 candidates appeared on ballots in the spring election, and again in Alberta’s Battle River-Crowfoot during the August by-election. The sheer number of candidates prompted Elections Canada to adjust printing and counting practices, with near metre-long ballots at times and a shift to write-in ballots for some races. The measure aimed to maintain clarity for voters and deliver results without administrative gridlock.
Questions over nomination signatures
Central to the committee’s scrutiny was how nomination signatures are gathered. Critics argued that electors sometimes sign multiple nomination forms for different candidates in a single riding. Szuchewycz acknowledged that his team sometimes collected several signatures per voter, insisting that they recruit, compile, and submit only fully formed nominations, and that some forms were rejected by local election workers when the candidate name field was left blank or marked too broadly.
Parliamentary scrutiny and potential consequences
Conservative MP Michael Cooper pressed for clarity, suggesting that some forms bore blank fields or signs that appeared manipulated. Szuchewycz contended that some images cited in evidence were AI-generated or misrepresented, while acknowledging that the group has experimented with forms that read “any and all candidates.” The committee’s dialogue touched on whether such practices should trigger penalties for voters signing multiple forms, or whether rules should instead shield the process from exploitation by anti-establishment movements.
Expert perspectives and policy questions
Political science expert Lori Turnbull offered a nuanced view, acknowledging the legitimacy of electoral reform concerns while outlining the practical hurdles of implementing an independent rules body. She warned that theory often clashes with the realities of governance, including accountability, funding, and public legitimacy. Liberal MPs and the committee chair urged concrete answers about how reform could work in a functioning democratic system, not just in theory.
What comes next for electoral reform debates
As the committee weighs possible changes to curb long ballots, Elections Canada signaled openness to discussing reforms, provided safeguards exist to prevent new forms of manipulation. Perrault highlighted that stricter nomination-signature rules could deter some protest tactics, though he cautioned against unduly penalizing sincere, “good faith” candidates. The debate remains colored by real-world experiences in recent elections, where ballot length and process complexity directly influenced voter engagement and counting timelines.
Takeaway for voters and candidates
Ultimately, the discussions revolve around striking a balance between ensuring robust participation, preserving ballot integrity, and maintaining a fair, transparent pathway for candidates to enter the race. The Longest Ballot Committee argues that meaningful reform requires removing partisan entanglements from the drafting of election rules, while critics warn against undermining practical governance in pursuit of idealistic safeguards.
