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Service statement to citizens

Our Mission

The Chief Electoral Officer and the Commission de la représentation électorale are independent institutions that report directly to the National Assembly.

The mission of the Chief Electoral Officer is to oversee the holding of elections and referendums, to ensure compliance with political financing rules, to guarantee the full exercise of election rights, and to promote the democratic values of Québec society.

The mission of the Commission de la représentation électorale is to draw up the electoral map of Québec and, where required, those of municipalities and school boards, by promoting the consultation of citizens and by assuring them fair and equitable representation.


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Our Products and Services

We mainly offer:

  • an information centre that is attuned to the needs of the population;
  • a permanent list of electors registration and update service;
  • information campaigns to facilitate the exercise of the right to vote;
  • opinions, advice and information concerning the application and interpretation of electoral legislation;
  • information and training sessions, as well as democracy education activities;
  • information on the process of delimiting electoral divisions and electoral districts, in particular on the holding of public consultations;
  • assistance to persons wishing to obtain authorization to form a political party or to run for election;
  • tools and guides to help the various stakeholders carry out their duties;
  • a website that is updated continuously and that offers access to an extensive range of information;
  • access at all times to the register as well as to the financial reports and the returns of election expenses of the parties and candidates authorized in Québec;
  • brochures, pamphlets, election maps, and electronic slide shows;
  • a library, a map library and a historical document centre offering a wide array of election information.

Whether you are a citizen, a representative of a political entity, a candidate running for election, an elected official, or a partner of a municipality or a school board, you are among those to whom we wish to offer the best possible services.


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Our Commitments

Impartial, Fair and Equitable Treatment

We assure you that:

  • neither political allegiance, social status, the geographic origin of the person making the request, nor any other form of distinction will be taken into consideration in the delivery of our services.

A Quick and Courteous Reply

You can count on us to:

  • serve you attentively, respectfully and courteously;
  • immediately respond to your request or indicate to you the time when we will be able to do so.

High Quality Information

We take all the necessary steps to:

  • give you the information you need during general elections — whether it be to allow you to exercise your right to vote or to be a candidate — or during the holding of public consultations;
  • provide you with clear and complete information as well as documents written in easy-to-understand language;
  • offer you a high quality website with data that are updated on a regular basis.

Easy Access to Our Services

We undertake to:

  • offer you telephone information from 8 :30 a.m. to 12 noon and from 1 p.m. to 4 :30 p.m. on week days and provide you with access to our automated telephone services at lunch hour, in the evening and on weekends. These hours will be adapted during election periods;
  • call you back on the same day or on the following business day when you leave a message at a time when our offices are closed;
  • provide a teletype service for persons who are deaf or hearing impaired; • simplify our rules and procedures.

A Commission that is Accessible and Attentive

To facilitate a strong participation by citizens during the Commission’s public consultation hearings, you can count on us to:

  • hold a sufficient number of public consultation sessions at the most appropriate locations;
  • do everything in our power to enable individuals to express their views;
  • accept all representations, whatever their form, with a minimum of formalism and without imposing time limits.

Confidentiality of Personal Information

We will take all measures required to:

  • protect your personal information;
  • make sure that the data found on the permanent list of electors will be used only as provided for in the Election Act.

To ensure that their commitments are respected, the Chief Electoral Officer and the Commission de la représentation électorale will make all of their personnel and partners aware of how to continue offering high quality services to all citizens.


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Response Times

We are committed to respecting the following time limits:

Our Telephone Services
Maximum time before talking to an attendant 2 minutes
Reply time after leaving a message Telephone call the same day or the following business day

Mail
Time limit for obtaining a reply to a letter sent by mail or by fax 10 business days
If we cannot respond to your request within the stipulated time limit, we will indicate to you when we will be able to do so
Time limit for obtaining a reply to a letter sent by e-mail

Sending of an acknowledgment of receipt on the same day or on the following business day

If we cannot respond to your request within 10 business days, we will indicate to you when we will be able to do so

Counter Reception
Maximum waiting time when you come to our offices 5 minutes

Requests for Access
Time limit for obtaining a reply to a request for access 20 days maximum (as set out in the Act respecting Access to documents held by public bodies and the Protection of personal information)

Returning Officers to Assist You

During a provincial election or referendum, the Chief Electoral Officer benefits from the expertise of returning officers in each of the electoral divisions. These individuals ensure that the poll unfolds smoothly. During an election period, they can respond to your needs and answer most of your questions.


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Are You Satisfied With Our Services?

If you have comments to make or if you are dissatisfied with our services, we ask that you contact us by telephone, mail or e-mail. Our contact information is indicated at the end of this brochure.

Complaints will be forwarded to the Secretary General, who will process them confidentially. No later than the following business day, a member of the Secretary General’s department will call you. If we are unable to reach you, we will send you an acknowledgment of receipt asking you to contact us.

You will receive a clear and detailed reply within a maximum of 20 business days following receipt of the complaint. However, this time limit may be modified during an election period considering the requirements of the situation.


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Follow-up on Our Commitments

The Chief Electoral Officer and the Commission de la représentation électorale intend to do a regular follow-up on their service statement to citizens. To support its implementation, a plan to improve services to citizens will be prepared on a yearly basis.

The results obtained concerning these commitments will be made public in our Institution’s annual management report. This report may be consulted on the website of the Chief Electoral Officer.


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To Contact Us

Commission de la représentation électorale

Chief Electoral Officer

Information Centre:
418 528-0422

Toll-free in Canada and the U.S.:
1 888 ELECTION (1 888 353-2846)

Fax:
418 643-7291

Toll-free in Québec:
1 866 225-4095

E-mail:
info@electionsquebec.qc.ca

Telecommunication apparatus for
the deaf or hearing impaired (TTY):
418 646-0644

Toll-free in Québec:
1 800 537-0644

Head Office:
Édifice René-Lévesque
3460, rue de La Pérade
Québec (Québec) G1X 3Y5

Service statement to citizens
(PDF : 3 MB, 12 pages)

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