DiscoverThe Big StoryAre Poilievre's democratic concerns of the long ballot valid?
Are Poilievre's democratic concerns of the long ballot valid?

Are Poilievre's democratic concerns of the long ballot valid?

Update: 2025-08-05
Share

Description

In less than 2 weeks, it's do or die for Pierre Poilievre.

Not only is he in for a political battle to get into the House of Commons, he's got other forces working against him, including another lengthy ballot.

Most of the candidates are associated with the Longest Ballot Committee, a grassroots electoral reform group seeking to draw attention to itself by flooding ballots with as many names as possible in several recent elections and byelections. But their tactics have raised questions about the effect long ballots have on the accessibility and integrity of the vote. 

Host Caryn Ceolin speaks to Julie Simmons, associate professor at the University of Guelph’s political science department to discuss both the flaws in the Canadian electoral system that long ballots aim to highlight and whether such protests have the potential to depreciate our democracy.


We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:

Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca 

Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

Comments 
00:00
00:00
x

0.5x

0.8x

1.0x

1.25x

1.5x

2.0x

3.0x

Sleep Timer

Off

End of Episode

5 Minutes

10 Minutes

15 Minutes

30 Minutes

45 Minutes

60 Minutes

120 Minutes

Are Poilievre's democratic concerns of the long ballot valid?

Are Poilievre's democratic concerns of the long ballot valid?

Caryn Ceolin