On-campus advance voting underway for Montreal students ahead of Sunday’s municipal election
Posted October 27, 2025 11:23 am.
Last Updated October 27, 2025 5:26 pm.
Montrealers will choose their next mayor and city councillors on Nov. 2, but advance voting is already underway across the city.
For the first time, Élections Montréal is running a pilot project allowing students to vote directly on their campuses.
Polling stations have opened for students at universities and CEGEPs, seniors in CHSLDs and private residences, and the general public.
Residents can also vote early at offices of the returning officer from Oct. 24 to 29, while mobile stations visit seniors’ residences. People with mobility or health issues who requested at-home voting can also participate.
On Sunday, Oct. 26, more than 3,200 poll workers welcomed voters at over 200 polling locations across Montreal. Polling stations operated from noon to 8 p.m., as required by law, with mid-afternoon and late evening being the quietest times to vote. This period also saw dozens of Elections Montréal teams visiting approximately 1,200 people who had requested at-home voting due to health reasons.
Advance polls at Concordia
Concordia University is among the locations hosting advance voting. All Concordia students, faculty, and staff who are registered and eligible to vote in the Montreal municipal election, and who live within the amalgamated City of Montreal, may vote on campus from Oct. 27 to 29, regardless of their riding.
Polling stations are available at the EV Atrium in the Sir George Williams Campus and at room RF-110 in the Loyola Jesuit Hall and Conference Centre.
Voting at both campuses runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 27, and Tuesday, Oct. 28, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 29.
Élections Montréal spokesperson Sébastien Trottier called it “an exciting day” for students, noting the pilot project is the first of its kind in Quebec. “Students from 16 schools in Montreal will be able to vote at their schools wherever they live,” he said.
“We hope that students of Montreal will come out and vote in great numbers.”
Trottier explained that even students who live outside Montreal can vote at their school: “If a student who lives in Pointe-aux-Trembles goes to school here at Concordia, we’re going to print the same ballots as if they were voting in their own district.”
He added the initiative is intended to boost participation. “The main goal for us is to have the biggest turnout rate possible. With that initiative, we are connecting directly with more than 100,000 students of Montreal. That’s pretty much 10 per cent of the total electoral list,” Trottier said.
Student voting rules
Students and staff who wish to vote on campus must be 18 years or older on Nov. 2, 2025, be Canadian citizens, and be registered on the Montreal electoral list. Those who meet these criteria can cast their ballots directly at their university, CEGEP, or college, allowing them to participate in the municipal election without leaving campus.
“If they are registered on the list, they can vote. That notice is not necessary to vote,” explained Trottier.
“When they come to the table, they just show their ID and we direct them to the polling station,” he added.
No election card needed
Due to the ongoing postal strike, registered voters do not need an election card to vote. A single piece of valid identification, such as a driver’s licence, health card, passport, Canadian Forces ID, or Certificate of Indian Status, is sufficient.
Student and public reactions
Concordia PhD student Azfar Adib said the campus polling is convenient. “Firstly, it’s very comfortable for us since the polling is taking place right in my building. So I can come anytime and give the vote,” he said.
Adib added he hopes the next mayor will improve downtown traffic and safety.
Francesca Kaiser, another Concordia student, said on-campus voting makes it easier to participate despite a busy semester.
“I think as a student, it’s really, really important to voice your opinion. And I think as, especially for me, I’m taking six courses this semester. It’s really, really hard to find time to go out and go and vote and take my time to actually do that for the city. But when it’s right here set up in Concordia, Concordia offers that for students. I think it’s really useful for me to be able to slip that into my schedule,” she said.
Kaiser said she hopes the next mayor addresses issues like construction delays on Sainte-Catherine Street.
Advanced voter Maureen Ellis highlighted the broader benefits of early voting. “I think it’s a fantastic idea because otherwise they may not bother, but if it’s right here in their face, I think for sure they might consider it,” she said.
Ellis said her decision to vote was driven by concerns about housing, homelessness, and the environment. “I really think Valérie Plante did a good job and I want to see that continue,” she added.
Other campuses with advance polling
In addition to Concordia, advance voting is available at the following institutions:
Universities
- École de technologie supérieure (ETS)
- HEC Montréal
- McGill University
- Polytechnique Montréal
- Université de Montréal
- Université du Québec à Montréal
Colleges and CEGEPs
- Collège Ahuntsic
- Collège de Bois-de-Boulogne
- Collège de Maisonneuve
- Cégep Marie-Victorin
- Cégep du Vieux-Montréal
- Cégep de Saint-Laurent
- Dawson College
- LaSalle College
- Vanier College
Estimated voter turnout so far
Élections Montréal data shows the estimated number of voters who have already participated in advance voting.
It shows that 9.3 per cent of eligible voters participated in advance polling by the time polls closed on Sunday at 8 p.m.
Trottier said early turnout is encouraging. “The turnout rate was a bit more than nine per cent yesterday, which is a lot more than what we had in 2017,” he said.
He also confirmed that the pilot project will likely return in future elections: “We look forward to bringing this pilot project back in four years and many more projects. Our goal is to come out with innovative solutions so that people can go out and vote.”
