Elections Canada Confirms 822 Special Ballots Mistakenly Incomplete in Coquitlam

Elections Canada announced that 822 special ballots from 74 electoral districts were mistakenly kept at the office of the returning officer for Coquitlam–Port Coquitlam during the recent federal election, instead of being returned to headquarters by the legal deadline. This error, caused by human failure to follow written procedures, meant the ballots were not counted, but an initial analysis confirmed that the outcomes in the affected districts would not have changed. The most impacted riding was Port Moody–Coquitlam, with over 500 ballots left uncounted, while other ridings across the country were also affected. Chief Electoral Officer Stéphane Perrault has ordered a thorough review of the controls and procedures to prevent a recurrence, reaffirming the agency’s commitment to transparency and corrective action. All registered political parties have been notified and provided with a breakdown of the affected ballots. Elections Canada emphasized its dedication to resolving election delivery issues promptly and responsibly.