Élections Montréal hoping for high voter turnout for Nov. 2 municipal election

On the eve of the official start of the electoral period in Montreal for the Nov. 2 municipal elections, Élections Montréal unveiled what residents need to know so they can take part and vote.

Montrealers will have a total of seven days to cast their ballots and different ways to do so this year, thanks to pilot projects that are in place.

In 2021, voter turnout was low, at 38.3 per cent, so Élections Montréal is hoping to boost that this year by creating even more access.

“Aiming at facilitating the vote and to promote an optimal participation because we want to have the highest turnout rate possible,” said Sébastien Trottier, spokesperson for Élections Montréal.

Advance polling will take place on Sunday, Oct. 26 from noon to 8 p.m. at over 200 locations across the city.

In addition to the Nov. 2 election day — where polls will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. — Montrealers will also have a chance to vote in the office of the returning officer in 70 locations.

There are also options for mobile polling of voting by mail.

You have to be registered to vote and have until Oct. 16 to verify your voter registration card that will be mailed.

Montrealers will vote for mayor of the city, as well as 102 other positions divided over 19 boroughs and 58 districts.

Residents hoping to become a candidate have until Oct. 3 to submit their nomination.

For the first time at the municipal level, post-secondary students will be able to vote on campus on Oct. 24, 27, 28 and 29.

“We’re the only city that will be offering student voting. so over a four-day period students that attend seven universities and nine CEGEPs that have more than 4,000 students will be able to cast their vote at their school,” Trottier said.

“If a student from who lives in Pointe-aux-Trembles and attends the Cégep du Vieux Montréal, well that student will be able to cast his vote at his school at the Cégep du Vieux Montréal and that’s an initiative that will be we will be able to reach more than 100,000 Montreal voters with that.”

Only one in five young people aged 18 to 24 voted in the last election.

Future voters will have a chance to participate, as “Small Polling Stations” will be available for children and teens to answer a question.

Key dates:

• Sept. 19 to Oct. 3 (4:30 p.m.): Period for submitting an election application
• Sept. 22: Filing of the electoral list
• Oct. 11-16: Electoral registration period
• Oct. 24, 27, 28 and 29: Student polling stations on university campuses and in large CEGEPs (schedule varies depending on these locations) and voting in the offices of the returning office
• Oct. 25: Voting in large residences and at home for people who have requested it before Oct. 16.
• Oct. 26: Advance voting from noon to 8 p.m.
• Nov. 2: Official Election Day from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Election by the numbers:

2: The Montreal election is the 2nd largest municipal election in the country.

33: The number of places where it will be possible to register on the electoral roll.

58: The number of electoral districts in Montreal.

340: The number of candidates in the 2021 general election.

450: The expected number of polling places on official election day.

13,000: The number of positions to be filled to serve voters on election day.

13,000: The number of ballot statements to be entered and compiled on election night.

1.134 million: Projected number of eligible voters.

1.5 million: Number of mailings to inform voters about their rights and the election.

4.5 million: The number of ballots to be printed for the election.