Canadian candidate lost by 1 after administrative error

OTTAWA, Ontario — The Supreme Court of Canada published its reasons for a Feb. 13, 2026 judgment in favor of a federal candidate who lost by one vote and asked for the annulment of the election in her district after a mistake was discovered: Mail-in ballots were stamped with the wrong address, preventing electors from voting. The lower court erred in dismissing the candidate’s appeal because the serious administrative error was an irregularity that compromised the results of the election and violated the Canada Elections Act.Read the ruling here.Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads