MPs question tactics as long ballot protests come under scrutiny
In a rare and heated session, MPs scrutinized Tomas Szuchewycz, an organizer with the Longest Ballot Committee, a group advocating electoral reform through a flood of independent candidates. The confrontation occurred during a tense meeting of the House procedures committee, where lawmakers probed the group’s strategy and its implications for election rules.
The Longest Ballot Committee has gained attention for encouraging dozens of independent candidates to run in various ridings since 2021, arguing that an independent, non-partisan body should oversee electoral rules rather than the MPs who draft them. Szuchewycz contended that current procedures invite partisan influence and called for an overhaul to ensure greater independence in how elections are governed.
The tactic: flooding ballots to push reform
One of the group’s notable outcomes occurred in the spring, when just over 90 candidates ran in Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s Ontario riding of Carleton. The effort continued with a sizeable field of independent contenders in the August byelection in Alberta’s Battle River-Crowfoot, a race in which Poilievre regained a seat after losing his Ottawa-area riding earlier in the year.
According to Szuchewycz, the group’s aim is not to soak up votes but to draw attention to the practical consequences of long ballots and candidate surges. “The Longest Ballot Committee advocates that you MPs recuse yourself from writing the rules of your own elections,” he argued, advocating for an independent body to oversee election rules and minimize conflicts of interest in rule-making.
Controversial forms and the question of legality
The committee’s tactics have sparked questions about the integrity of nomination processes. MPs referenced cases where electors reportedly signed multiple nomination forms, sometimes with the candidate’s name left blank. Conservative MP Michael Cooper pressed the organizer on whether such signatures represented a violation of election rules. Szuchewycz insisted the committee recruits and documents candidates comprehensively, and that forms with blank fields were rejected or later altered in some instances.
Cooper cited what he described as an “AI doctored” image showing a blank nomination field. Szuchewycz maintained the image was misleading, arguing that the group’s practices are more nuanced and that some signatures were collected for “any and all candidates” before being handled in compliance with local election workers’ processes. Elections Canada officials have suggested that while the group’s actions have complicated some elections, there is no clear evidence of systematic wrongdoing.
Calls for reform and questions of accountability
Perrault, the Chief Electoral Officer, indicated that the organization’s actions have forced Elections Canada to adapt, including the use of exportably long ballots in certain races and a shift toward write-in ballots in some instances. He also suggested potential reforms, such as requiring each signatory to endorse a specific candidate rather than multiple candidates, and imposing consequences for voters who sign multiple nomination forms. Yet he warned against punitive measures that could chillingly affect genuine or well-intentioned campaigns.
Debate extended to who should oversee electoral rules. Liberal MP Chris Bittle, chairing the committee, asked Szuchewycz who should comprise a truly independent body. Szuchewycz refrained from naming specific actors, stating only that MPs should not control the rules they write. He argued a candid, independent process could resolve enduring tensions about political accountability and the role of Parliament in shaping elections.
Balancing reform with democratic accessibility
Dalhousie political scientist Lori Turnbull offered a cautious take. While she acknowledged the legitimacy of concerns about long ballots, she warned that turning theory into practice would be challenging. “If we start debating what to use instead of the House of Commons to decide on elections, we enter a complex policy space,” she noted, emphasizing that practical considerations—like accessibility and fairness—must guide any reform.
As MPs weigh potential changes to curb long ballots, the debate illuminates a broader question: how to ensure electoral rules are transparent and accountable while preserving voters’ access to a robust field of candidates. The Longest Ballot Committee’s campaign has certainly intensified scrutiny of who writes the rules—and how those rules shape the ballot voters see on election day.
