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Fact check: Wrong Postal Code on Ballot Envelopes in Canada Federal Election

Checked on June 8, 2025

1. Summary of the results

The original statement is factually accurate but lacks crucial context. Elections Canada has officially confirmed there was an error in the postal code on special ballot envelopes in the Terrebonne riding [1]. The issue specifically affected a voter named Emmanuelle Bossé, whose Bloc Québécois vote was returned to sender due to an incorrectly printed return address label [2]. This incident is particularly significant because the Liberal candidate Tatiana Auguste won this riding by just one vote after multiple recounts [2].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual elements were omitted from the original statement:

  • Chief Electoral Officer Stéphane Perrault has announced a comprehensive review of the special ballot voting system, including employee training and processing controls [1]
  • This is not an isolated incident - there was at least one previous case that contributed to the decision to review the system [1]
  • Only one case of a returned ballot envelope has been officially reported so far [1]
  • Legal experts suggest this could be grounds to contest the election result and potentially lead to a by-election if the irregularity is deemed to have affected the outcome [2]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement's brevity could lead to several misunderstandings:

  • It fails to mention that this is a highly unusual and potentially precedent-setting case [2]
  • Different groups have varying interests in this situation:
    • The Liberal Party benefits from maintaining the current result, as their candidate won by one vote [2]
    • The Bloc Québécois could benefit from highlighting this issue, as it was their potential voter who was affected [2]
    • Elections Canada has taken a proactive stance by announcing a review, potentially to maintain public trust in the electoral system [1]

The situation is more complex than a simple postal code error - it potentially affects the democratic process and could set new precedents for electoral challenges in Canada.

Want to dive deeper?
How are mail-in ballots verified and processed in Canadian federal elections?
What happens when there are administrative errors on ballot envelopes in Canada?
Have there been documented cases of postal code errors affecting Canadian election results?
What safeguards exist to prevent mail-in ballot fraud in Canadian federal elections?
How does Elections Canada handle discrepancies in voter information on ballot materials?