Page 19 - IAV Digital Magazine #597

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Canadian Candidate Becomes The First To Ever Receive Zero Votes
By Ben Hooper
June 28 (UPI) -- A Canadian man has become the first candidate in the nation's histo- ry to receive zero votes in a con- tested federal election.
Félix-Antoine Hamel was one of 84 candidates to run in a Toronto byelection after he and 76 others were approached by election reform group Longest Ballot Committee,
which packed the race with candi- dates to success- fully create the longest ballot in Canadian history.
Hamel was the only candidate in the race to receive zero votes. He said he didn't even vote for himself because he is not a Toronto resi- dent, and there- fore not eligible to cast a ballot.
"When I saw the result, I was like:
'Well, I am the true unity candi- date. Everyone agrees not to vote for me,'"
Hamel told CBC News.
The Library of Parliament data- base confirmed Hamel was the first candidate in the country's his- tory to fail to receive a single vote in a contest- ed election. Other candidates have run in uncontest- ed races and won without a single vote.
Six other candi- dates in Hamel's race received only two votes each.
Hamel said he wasn't exactly surprised by his showing in the election, but he was amused to learn of his unusual new dis- tinction.
"I'm one of the last people that would be expect- ed to make Canadian history in any way," he said
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