The Clacton by-election is set to feature the longest ballot paper in British electoral history, with 34 candidates vying for the seat. Election officials are implementing new procedures to manage the unprecedented length, which measures nearly a meter.
Ian Davidson, whose teams are responsible for carrying out elections, stated that the ballot papers are so long they will require "double tables" and must be sorted in batches before verification and counting can begin. This is a significant departure from standard election procedures.
Historically, the record for the most candidates in a House of Commons by-election was 26, set during the Haltemprice and Howden by-election in July 2008. That contest saw David Davis resign and stand again as a protest. Prior to that, the Newbury by-election in 1993 had 19 candidates.
The current situation in Clacton is partly due to the resignation of MP Nigel Farage on July 7, following scrutiny over his finances and a parliamentary investigation. Farage, the leader of the Reform party, is standing again in the by-election. The lengthy ballot is further amplified by the inclusion of 20 independent candidates, a new record for a single election.
Notably, the major political parties have chosen not to field candidates in this by-election. A full list of the 34 individuals seeking to represent Clacton is available through official channels.