Can more than one candidate run in an electoral district?
- No, only one candidate per district
- Only if the Senate approves
- Only two: one per major party
- Yes, there can be many candidates
Answer: Yes, there can be many candidates
Yes. Any Canadian citizen aged 18 or older may run, so there can be many candidates in one electoral district. Voters choose among them, and the candidate with the most votes becomes the MP for that district.
Learn more: Electoral districts, candidates and MPs
- An electoral district is a geographic area represented by one Member of Parliament. It is also called a riding or a constituency.
- Canada is divided into 343 electoral districts (since the 2025 general election; Discover Canada gives 308).
- The citizens in each electoral district elect one MP, who represents them and all Canadians in the House of Commons.
- Canadian citizens aged 18 or older may run in a federal election.
- People who run for office are called candidates. There can be many candidates in one electoral district.
- Voters in each district vote for the candidate and political party of their choice.
- The candidate who receives the most votes becomes the MP for that district.