1. Do I have the right to vote in the municipal elections of November 1st, 2009?
You can vote in the November 1
st, 2009 elections if, on September 1
st, 2009:
- you were at least 18 years old (or will be at least 18 years old on polling day – see question no 3);
- you are a Canadian citizen;
- you are not under curatorship;
- you have not been found guilty of a corrupt electoral practice; and
- you fulfill one of the following two conditions:
- you are domiciled in the municipality and, for at least six months, in Québec;
- you are an owner of a building or the occupant of a business establishment located on the territory of the municipality, for at least 12 months.
2. On what date can I vote in these elections?
Apart from the advance poll that will take place on October 25, 2009, from noon to 8 p.m., you can also vote on polling day, i.e., on November 1st, 2009, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
3. I will only turn 18 by September 1st, 2009. Will I be eligible to vote?
Yes. You are considered as an elector of your municipality if you are 18 years old on polling day.
4. I am a tenant, do I have the right to vote in the municipal elections?
Yes. You are entitled to vote if, on September 1st, 2009, you fulfill the conditions outlined in question 1.
5. I am the owner or occupant of a business establishment (retail store, small or mid-size business, etc.). Can I vote in the municipal elections even if I am not domiciled in the municipality in which my business is located?
6. I own a building. Can I vote in the municipal elections even if I am not domiciled in the municipality in which my building is located?
7. I own a cottage with my three brothers, but I am not domiciled in the municipality in which the cottage is located. Do I still have the right to vote?
You and your three brothers must designate one of you to exercise the right to vote. This is done by means of a proxy signed by the majority of the owners.
For more information, please contact the
returning officer of the municipality.
8. My cottage is situated in a municipality. Four years ago, I requested that my name be entered on the list of electors. Must I register on the list again?
No. Your application for entry as a non domiciled elector or your proxy (in case of a condominium) is valid as soon as it is received by the municipality and as long as it is not replaced, withdrawn, or rescinded. You can confirm your registration by contacting the
returning officer.
9. I have two residences with two tax accounts in two municipalities where elections are scheduled on November 1st, 2009. Do I have the right to vote in both places?
Yes. If you have owned each of the two residences for at least 12 months.
However, if your secondary residence is an undivided co-ownership, only the designated co-owner has the right to be entered on the list of electors as the owner. In this case, the co-owners must designate one of you to exercise the right to vote. This is done by means of a proxy signed by the majority of the owners.
This does not apply when the undivided co-ownership is the domicile of an elector. In such a case, all electors who are domiciled in this co-ownership have the right to be entered on the list of electors.
10. I am an elector in a municipality that is scheduled to hold an election this year. Moreover, I am a “super elector,” since I can vote under various capacities (e.g., elector domiciled in the municipality and owner of a business establishment). Would I have the right to vote under my various capacities?
No. If, on September 1
st, 2009, you are an elector under many capacities, you are entered only under one capacity based on the following order of priority:
1. as the domiciled person;
2. as the sole owner of a building;
3. as the sole occupant of a business establishment;
4. as the co-owner of a building;
5. as the co-occupant of a business establishment.
If you are the owner or co-owner of more than one building under the second or fourth item above, the building with the higher property value will be considered. If you are the sole owner or co-owner of more than one business establishment under the third or fifth item above, the business establishment with the highest rental value will be considered.
11. As an elector, can I obtain a copy of the list of electors of my municipality?
No! The list of electors is confidential. However, you can consult it it during the revision process. Contact your
returning officer for details on how to go about it.
12. As a candidate, can I obtain a copy of the list of electors? If yes, when?
Yes. You can obtain it when you file your duly completed nomination papers.
13. If I am outside Québec, can I vote by correspondence?
No. The Act Respecting Elections and Referendums in Municipalities has no provisions for electors outside Québec. As a result, you can only vote if you are not in Québec on polling day or on the day of the advance poll.
14. My mother resides in a long-term care centre and she is unable to move about in order to vote. Can she still exercise her right to vote?
Yes. Persons domiciled or residing in residential and long-term care centres, hospitals, rehabilitation centres or residences for senior identified in the register created under the Act respecting Health Services and Social Services can register and vote without leaving their facility.
For complete information regarding entry and mobile polling, please contact the
returning officer of the municipality.
To have the right to vote, your mother must not be under
curatorship.
15. How can I make sure that I am actually entered on the list of electors?
You will know by October 15, 2009, through a notice of entry that will be sent to you (the notice can show all electors who are entered at the same address).
None of these documents will mention your date of birth.
16. Does my employer have to grant me time to go and vote?
Yes. Your employer must ensure that you have at least four consecutive hours to go and vote. This four-hour period:
- applies only during the opening hours of polling stations on polling day;
- excludes time normally allocated for breaks;
- should not result in any penalty or salary deduction;
- is valid on polling day, but not for the advance poll.
17. What are the opening hours of polling stations on polling day?
Polling stations will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
18. Where are my board of revisors (to apply for a modification on the list of electors) and my polling station located?
The
returning officer of your municipality will send you notices containing this information during the election period. If you do not receive them on time, you have to contact the returning officer.
A reminder card showing the day, times and place where polling will be held will be distributed a few days before polling day at the address of every person entered on the list of electors.
19. Must I show identification documents to be able to vote?
Yes. You must show one of the following documents at the polling station:
- your health insurance card;
- your driver’s licence;
- your Canadian passport;
- the certificate of Indian status; or
- the Canadian Forces ID card.
20. What conditions do I need to satisfy if I would like to run as a candidate in the municipal elections?
To run as a candidate in the municipal elections, you must fulfill the following two conditions on September 1
st, 2009:
- be a qualified elector;
- reside continuously or not on the territory of the municipality for at least 12 months.
21. I would like to work in the municipal elections department: who should I contact?
22. I am the owner of a vacation property in a municipality located 100 km from my principal residence. Is there some way for me to vote without having to travel?
Yes, a provision allowing voters who are not domiciled in the municipality to vote by mail (Act respecting elections and referendums in municipalities, s. 659.4) has been adopted by more than 100 municipalities in Québec. Please contact your municipality’s
returning officer for details.
