Fill-in-the-blank ballot: Early voters have to fill in candidates’ names

Winnipeggers who have already voted in the federal election had to research who would be on the ballot.

Whether they applied in advance to vote by mail, or are a student who will vote at a post-secondary school, or are in hospital or a correctional institution, or serving as a member of the Canadian Armed Forces at a base that’s not in their home riding, they all receive blank ballots to fill out.

It means these voters — who numbered in to the thousands during the 2021 election — not only have to know the name of their preferred candidate, but also how to spell their name.

Marie-France Kenny, a regional spokeswoman for Elections Canada, said the ballots are blank because they are sent out before the official list of candidates is determined. Elections Canada only released an official ballot list for ridings on Wednesday, more than two weeks after the election began.

“Ballots are blank now because the final list of candidates is not ready,” Kenny said last week before the list of candidates was finalized.

“Electors can look up who their candidates are and write down their name. Once the list is final, we need time to prepare ballots, ensure their accuracy, etc.

Kenny said when the ballots are printed with the names of all candidates in a given riding, many voters will receive them.

“However, if you vote by special ballot, in a district that is not your own, you will still get the blank ballot.”

Voting with a blank ballot carries a risk: for example, several Conservative Party of Canada and Liberal Party of Canada candidates have been forced to drop out of the race because of past controversies.

“If you voted before the list was finalized, and your chosen candidate withdraws or is not confirmed, your vote will not be considered and counted,” Kenny said.

University of Manitoba political studies professor Christopher Adams said that makes sense given that under the Canadian electoral system, people vote for their local representative and not the party leader.

“It wouldn’t make sense to put a name on the ballot and then, if the candidate is no longer there, to transfer it to a party,” Adams said.

“Sometimes people vote for an individual, but aren’t happy with the party itself. We are a representative democracy where you vote for your local representative.

“If the name you voted for is no longer there, it makes sense your vote is not recorded.”

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca