How do the candidates get on the ballot in the first place?

When we vote in a federal election, we select from a list of candidates, in most cases with a political party beside each name. But how exactly do these names get there? Who selects which candidate will represent each party in each riding? And why have nominations been in the news lately? Here’s a refresher on how your candidates got on the ballot - and why critics argue we need to reform the nomination process - urgently. 

‍What are nominations anyway?

The nomination contest is when local members of a political party come together to choose their candidate in the next election. It is a way for party members to have a say in who will represent their interests in Parliament. Since the vast majority of MPs are members of political parties, parties have a big say in who will serve in Parliament.

Who can vote in a nomination contest? 

Anyone who is a party member and who lives in the riding is eligible to vote in a nomination contest. Normally, you have to verify your identity and address through government-issued ID or other valid acceptable identification.   

This sounds straightforward. What’s the problem? 

Nomination contests have been called confusing, corrupt, and a “critical gap” in our democracy. This is because there are no standardized rules for nomination contests and there is very little oversight. Instead, each party sets their own rules. This means that they get to decide when contests open and close; who can run and who can’t; and whether or not an incumbent MP can stand again without a contest. In practice, across parties, these rules vary wildly. 

If this all sounds, well, undemocratic, this is because it often is. Samara Centre research has found that between 2004 and 2015, out of more than 6,600 federal candidates, only 17% had gone through competitive nomination races. In fact, political parties directly appointed more than 2,700 candidates and in more than 70% of nomination contests, only a single person ran. 

Nominations contests were also short, with half lasting just three weeks or less. When contests are short, this makes it harder for outsider candidates to compete. There are also questions about equity and representation. Between 2004 and 2015, women made up only 28% of nomination contests.

Why does it matter if nominations aren’t competitive?

Nomination contests can ensure that a candidate has local support. They can also increase our confidence in the political system - we’re able to see that our vote matters. When a candidate is hand-selected by the party and parachuted into a riding, this can undermine our trust in the democratic process. 

Wait - weren’t nominations in the news recently because of foreign interference? 

You’re probably thinking of the public inquiry into foreign interference led by Justice Marie-Josée Hogue. (Or, as it was formally known, Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions.) Hogue had a fair amount to say about nominations. In her initial report, published in May 2024, she called nomination contests potential “gateways” for foreign interference. 

For a malicious actor, interfering in nomination contests could potentially reap big rewards. Nomination races are often close, with only a handful of votes making the difference. In contexts where a particular party is expected to win - so-called “safe seats” - then interfering in the nomination race could all but guarantee a preferred candidate gets elected to Parliament.

What changes could make the nomination process more transparent? 

Parties could make a number of reforms to ensure the nomination process is more democratic. These could include: having set opening and closing dates for nominations contests; holding contests even when there is an incumbent MP; making data on nomination races publicly available (i.e. how many members cast ballots in each contest, how many potential candidates were “vetted out” or prevented from running); and ensuring candidates are representative of Canada’s diversity. Our Party Favours report goes into detail about easy steps that parties could take to make the process more open, fair and accessible.