The 2025 Canadian federal election took place on April 28. Shortly after, Elections Canada revealed that 822 special ballots had been omitted, mistakenly left at the office of a returning officer in the riding of Coquitlam-Port Coquitlam.
The ballots, submitted by voters from 74 electoral districts, were not forwarded in time and missed the counting deadline. The error, discovered after the election, sparked national concern and raised questions about how such an oversight occurred.
Although Elections Canada stated that the missing ballots would not have changed the election’s outcome, the incident highlighted deeper concerns. The affected voters were effectively silenced, raising alarms about voter disenfranchisement – a serious threat to democratic participation. Incidents like this can also erode public trust in the electoral system, especially in tight races or among voters skeptical of institutional transparency.
At its core, the issue challenges the integrity of the democratic process. A credible election isn’t just about who wins – it’s about knowing that every vote gets counted and every voice heard.
Canada uses a first-past-the-post system, where voters in each riding elect one Member of Parliament, and the party with the most seats forms the government.
In response to the mishandling, Elections Canada promised a full investigation and committed to taking corrective steps. These include enhanced training for election staff and improved tracking systems for special ballots to prevent similar errors in the future.