Byelections called for Toronto Centre, York Centre on Oct. 26

Voters in two Toronto ridings will head to the polls next month to choose a new MP.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced byelections for Toronto Centre the riding held by former finance minister Bill Morneauuntil his resignationlast month and York Centre, vacant since Liberal backbencher Michael Levitt left to take a job with a Jewish human rights organization, for Oct. 26.

The Liberals named broadcaster Marci Ien as their candidate for Toronto Centre yesterday and already hadnamed Ya'ara Saksas their contender for York Centre.

TheNDPsaid it has not nominatedcandidates for the two byelections yet.The Conservatives have not yet responded to CBC's request.

Green Party of Canada leadership candidateAnnamie PaultoldCBC News she's interested in running in the byelection. Paul ran for the party in that riding in 2019 andis asking for a "special dispensation" because the party's leadership rules do not permit contestants to run in leadership campaigns and byelections.

People's Party of Canada Leader Maxime Bernier has said he's considering running in one of the upcoming Toronto-area byelections.

Small changes coming to voting process

This will be Elections Canada's first attempt at organizing a vote during the COVID-19 pandemic.

While theindependent agency has been looking at changesto how elections work includinga two-day weekend voting period instead of the traditional one-day Monday vote spokespersonNatasha Gauthiertold CBC News the byelection call cametoo soon for Parliament to tweak theCanada Elections Act.

That means the byelectionswill still havefour days of advance voting, open for 12 hours. There will be changes to the in-person voting experience, however, includingphysical distancing measures, fewer poll workers and single-use pencils.

Gauthierwarned that the byelection process will take longerthan usualand the results could be slower to arrive, but the length of time polling stations are kept open is set by law, so Elections Canadacan't increase it.

Those wanting to vote by mail-inballot still have to apply by the Tuesday before byelection day and must make sure their vote gets in on time.

Though on-campus voting does not occur in byelections, Gauthier saidElections Canada is planning toeliminateon-campus voting for the general electiondue to the large number ofpost-secondary institutions moving their courses online.