Some voters in Windsor–Tecumseh–Lakeshore have already cast their ballots, writing in the name Mark McKenzie — only to learn he’s since been dropped by the Conservative Party.
McKenzie was removed from the party’s slate Tuesday after a podcast clip resurfaced in which he voiced support for “public hangings” and joked that former prime minister Justin Trudeau should receive the death penalty.
“A lot of people have reached out and said, ‘I already voted for Mark, so now what?‘” McKenzie told CTV News.
Those votes were cast using a special ballot — an option that allows electors to vote early by mail or in person at any Elections Canada office.
Instead of selecting from a printed list of names, special ballot voters write in the name of the candidate they’re supporting.
Because candidate nominations remain open until April 7, there’s a risk — if the person named on the ballot isn’t ultimately confirmed, the vote won’t count.
McKenzie said he filed his nomination papers at a returning office on Sunday and told CTV News he received an email afterward confirming he was officially registered as a candidate.
A spokesperson for Elections Canada said that once a candidate is officially confirmed their name will appear on the ballot under the party they were affiliated with at the time — unless they choose to formally withdraw before the nomination deadline.
If a party later disavows a candidate, that candidate still appears on the ballot with the party label although they would not be eligible to sit with that party in the House of Commons if elected.
In such cases where a candidate is disavowed but remains on the ballot, votes for them are still valid; however, if a confirmed candidate withdraws before 2 p.m. on April 7, any ballots already cast for them become void.
Under the Canada Elections Act, that withdrawal must be submitted in writing and witnessed by two electors from the same riding.
Voters who have already submitted special ballots do not get another chance to vote.
McKenzie believes he checked the box on his nomination form indicating he wished to continue as an independent if his party endorsement couldn’t be verified.
That’s one of the options available to candidates in Section A of the form, alongside running with no party affiliation or withdrawing entirely.
Mckenzie said Tuesday he’s still waiting for clarification from a returning officer on how that’s being processed, and that nothing is final.
“I haven’t decided what I’m going to do yet,” he said.
Long story short
McKenzie said he has already been confirmed as a candidate in Windsor–Tecumseh–Lakeshore.
If he chooses to remain in the race either under the Conservative banner or as an independent, votes for him will still count toward his election.
But even if he wins, he would not represent the Conservatives in the House of Commons.
If he withdraws, those votes will be void and the people who cast them won’t get to vote again.
