Due to the timing, candidates and parties vying for the seat are expecting a “really low” voter turnout.
Residents in the federal riding of Cloverdale-Langley City will head to the polls on Monday to elect a new Member of Parliament, but due to the timing of the byelection, candidates are expecting a low voter turnout.
The national postal strike limited traditional communications, and with the approaching holiday season and a general election on the horizon, political parties are facing significant challenges in mobilizing voters.
The federal byelection was called in the riding after former Liberal MP John Aldag resigned to run for the NDP in this year’s provincial election. Six candidates are campaigning in the riding, including Tamara Jansen, the federal Conservative candidate and former MP who held the seat from 2019 to 2021.
“I think voter turnout is going to be really low,” said Tony Cook, president of the regional association of the People’s Party of Canada, who has been campaigning for candidate Ian Kennedy.
“My feeling from knocking on doors with Ian is that everyone knows there’s an election — but everybody is worn out, and they know we’re coming back again in October 2025,” said Cook.
Elections Canada said early voting, which wrapped up Tuesday, show that the byelection turnout is about 75 per cent lower than in the last general election.
“According to the preliminary figures, 5,368 electors voted at the advance polls in this byelection,” Elections Canada said in a news release, noting that some polls may not yet have been reported. By comparison, preliminary figures from the 2021 general election showed that 20,845 people cast advance ballots.
“Byelections normally experience lower turnout,” Green party candidate Pat McCutcheon said. “But I think the Cloverdale-Langley City byelection turnout will be lower than normal.”
Cloverdale-Langley City covers an area of Surrey as well as the entire City of Langley. The 2021 census showed there were around 130,000 residents. As of Nov. 10, there were 88,348 voters on the electors list.
Due to the postal dispute, traditional mail communications — including Elections Canada voter information cards and political party pamphlets — were disrupted.
McCutcheon agrees that the job action comes during a time of voter fatigue from the recent provincial election and amidst distractions from seasonal activities.
“Voters are aware there will be a federal general election sometime in the next 10 months,” he added.
To boost voter turnout in Cloverdale-Langley City, the parties have focused on in-person events, including attending all-candidate meetings, meeting with special interest groups, and distributing campaign flyers and lawn signs.
Vanessa Sharma, the federal NDP candidate, says she expressed support striking for postal workers as part of her campaign.
“I think standing with them is more important to me. I know I’m nervous for everyone else in the public sector who’s going into bargaining next year — like ICBC and B.C. Hydro employees,” Sharma said.
“How do you get voters to come out while, at the same time, supporting your union workers? It’s been a juggle.”
The other candidates running in the riding are Madison Fleischer for the federal Liberals, and Alex Joehl for the Libertarian Party.
Elections Canada has informed voters via its website that they will not be receiving voter information cards in the mail. In response, it has added extra public communication initiatives.
Voters don’t need a voter information card, they can enter their postal code to find their assigned polling station, check its accessibility, and consult the list of accepted ID to prove identity and address.
Its alternative public messaging includes social media, radio, and print campaigns to help electors locate their polling stations without the voter information card, as well as signage on billboards, bus shelters, gyms, malls and campuses.
This byelection for the federal seat is the 11th campaign since the 2021 federal election.
Polling stations in the riding will be open on Dec. 16 from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.