Quebec votes 2026: ‘You have to do your civic duty’

It’s election day in Quebec, voters will decide who will be the next Premier and which of the five major parties will govern the province after a 39-day campaign.

The magic number is 64 seats to win a majority as Quebec now has 127 ridings, up from 125 in the 2022 election.

“It was nice, I mean it’s pretty simple, you go and you vote and that’s as easy as that,” said John, a Montrealer. “You know, you have to do your civic duty, you know, show what you stand for and you always have to like, if you have the chance to vote you might as well go do it, you know. There’s some places you don’t have the chance to do it so you gotta do it.”

“I think it’s about citizens going out to vote, but I haven’t made a decision yet,” said Alain Carré, a Montrealer. “There is no one capable of respecting the decision. They tell us they are going to do this or that, but they never do it.” 

Beatriz Elena Alvaran, a Montrealer said, “I’m proud to be here today because I want to vote because I’ve been here for about 20 years so I’m from Colombia and I like this country and I like really, really like Canada.”

Karine Arbour, a Montrealer, said, “I do find it difficult to choose among five parties. It also tends to split the vote, because—like it or not—there are similarities in the proposals across all the parties. I don’t think it will necessarily lead to a majority government.” 

Nasim Uddin, another Montrealer, said, “I think for everybody you have to vote here and it’s very important for us as a Canadian.”

A number of important issues were discussed by all parties including the proposed referendum on Quebec’s independence by Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon who said that he would hold one after Donald Trump’s presidency regardless of whether his party is elected with a majority or minority government.  

“I really want to do this area, the Quebec, be part of Canada. See, don’t be separated, be a good state. So that is very important. I’m living here, my family’s here, so where else,” Alvaran said.

At the ballot box on Monday, the cost of living also seemed to be top of mind for certain voters.

“My god, the cost of living is the issue that I find important right now,” said Arbour.

John, added, “The thing that stands out the most to me is the cost of living. Everything is getting more expensive in the housing crisis and everything like that. And trying to find a party that makes it easier for people, especially in this day and age.”