Record-breaking 214 candidates in historic Battle River-Crawfoot by-election

The by-election in the federal riding of Battle River-Crawfoot in Alberta began today, and for the first time in Canadian electoral history, voters will have to write their preferred candidate's name on the ballot by hand. The election is being held after Conservative MP Damian Cork stepped down to allow Conservative Party leader Pierre Pulivor to run. Pulivor lost the previous election in the riding of Carlton in Ottawa.

214 candidates have registered for the by-election, breaking the record for the most candidates in Canadian federal election history. Candidates include Pierre Pulivor, Liberal Darcy Spadey, NDP Catherine Swampy, People's Party of Canada's Jonathan Bridges, Green Party Ashley MacDonald and independent Bonnie Critchley.

Because of the large number of candidates, Elections Canada is providing special ballots on which voters must write the candidate's name in full, instead of using regular ballots. A booklet with all the candidates' names in alphabetical order is also available to voters at polling stations.

Elections Canada spokesman Matthew McKenna said that even if a candidate's name is misspelled, the vote will be counted, but simply writing the party name is not enough and the candidate's name must be included.

The election is being contested by a large number of candidates affiliated with the Long Ballot Committee, a group that aims to promote electoral reform. Pierre Pouliore has criticized the group, saying they are confusing voters by mass registration without the goal of winning. He has called for an increase in the number of signatures required to register candidates and for each candidate to have an independent financial representative.

Independent candidate Bonnie Critchley also expressed frustration at the current situation at the candidates' meeting, noting that some candidates are unable to vote because they do not live in the constituency.

Early voting continues until Monday.