How to Vote in Quebec's 2008 General Election

by Apathy is Boring — November 12, 2008

5 steps to hassle-free voting

1. Are you...

- a Canadian citizen
- over the age of 18
- residing in Quebec for the last 6 months

Sound like you? Advance to step 2!

2. Make sure you are registered.

You can now check online to make sure you are registered!
Just fill out the information here.

If you are...
You should receive a ‘Notice of entry’ in the mail confirming you as an elector (i.e. eligible to vote). Make sure that your name and address are correct and that everyone in your home eligible to vote receives one. If not, you need file an application for correction here. Your notice of entry will also tell you where you are supposed to go to vote (normally a nearby school or community center) and of course remind you of the date and times you are allowed to vote.

If you're not...
This is the hard part, but go you must! To the revision office! You'll have to file an application for entry, and you'll need two pieces of ID. The offices are open from November 17 to 25, 2008, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Friday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Saturdays and Sundays.
Click here to find your revision office.

3. Get informed!

Learn about the different candidates and which party you would like to support. Check out our QC Election Section for a summary of the different parties and links to their official websites! (coming soon)

4. Get Ready

Make sure you have two pieces of ID to take with you when you vote- one must be government recognized with a photo (passport, driver’s license, medicare card…) and one must have your name and current address (driver’s license, visa bill…). You may want to double check which candidate is running in your riding so you easily recognize their name on the voting ballot.

5. VOTE!

Take those two pieces of ID and head down to the location specified on your Notice of Entry. You can vote either on election day, during the advanced polls, or - new this year - during one of the five additional days set up to make voting more convenient then ever. Remember, if your work schedule conflicts with polling times, your employer is legally obliged to give you four consecutive hours to vote on voting day, so you have no excuse!

When you arrive at the polls, you will hand the election worker your ID so they can confirm you are who your Notice of Entry says you are. Then you'll go behind a divider with your ballot...simply mark off who you want to vote for on the anonymous ballot, fold it up and shove it in the ballot box!

Election Day:
December 8th, 2008 9:30am-8pm

Advanced Polls:
November 30th, 2008 9:30am-8pm
December 1st, 2008 9:30am-8pm

Additional Days to Vote:
November 28, 2008, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
November 29, 2008, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
December 2 to 3, 2008, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
December 4, 2008, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

*Note: For information on where to vote in the advanced polls or one of the additional days check out details at www.monvote.qc.ca

But wait!

What if I am studying outside of Quebec? Read our QC Election: Special for students away from home.

What if I am too sick to vote, or have other difficulties voting? You can still vote! Details here, under the Electors section: www.monvote.qc.ca/en/

Source:Directeur General Des Elections Du Quebec