Change may be on the horizon in Quebec as voting underway
CBC News | Posted: October 1, 2018 11:48 AM | Last Updated: October 1, 2018
More than 5 million people eligible to cast ballots in provincial election
This story will no longer be updated. For the latest election results, read this story or check our live results page.
It is finally here. After 39 days of campaigning and crisscrossing the province, the party leaders have settled in for the wait as Quebecers cast their ballots.
More than five million people are eligible to vote in balloting that began at 9:30 a.m. ET Monday. The province regularly sees turnout rates of more than 70 per cent.
Quebec's chief electoral officer (DGEQ) says 1.1 million people — or 18 per cent of eligible voters — went to advance polls between Sept. 21 and 27.
The Coalition Avenir Québec, the front-runner throughout the campaign, is favoured to win the most seats, according to CBC's Quebec Poll Tracker.
Liberal Leader Philippe Couillard, the incumbent, chose to have the election campaign last the maximum 39 days — giving CAQ Leader François Legault more time to stumble.
And stumble Legault did, mainly over questions about his party's immigration policy. But despite its leader's missteps, the CAQ has managed to hang on to the all-important lead among francophone voters, which could power him to a majority in the National Assembly.
How to vote
Montrealer Nick Bouliers said during every election, he goes through a "personal crisis" — to vote, or not to vote.
But he always does.
"At the last minute, I always think there's people in other countries dying to just have this kind of right, to have their voice heard, and we should just never take it for granted."
Polls close at 8 p.m. You can find out where your local polling station is here.
You should have received two cards from Élections Québec — one confirming you're registered, and the other reminding you to vote and telling you where to go.
If you received those, you're registered, and if not, you can call 1-888-ELECTION or check here to see if you are on the list to vote.
Once that's done, all you need is one of the following pieces of photo ID:
- Health insurance card.
- Driver's licence.
- Canadian passport.
- Certificate of Indian Status.
- Canadian Armed Forces identification card.
Last week, a technology glitch resulted in long waits at some advance polling stations, including at universities and CEGEPs.
Turnout at educational institutions over the four-day advance voting period was down 20 per cent over 2014.
Élections Québec says things should go smoothly today and apologized for any issues, saying it doesn't take the situation lightly.
But there was at least one voting-related issue on Sunday — the Sûreté du Québec is investigating after ballot boxes were found along the highway in the Matapédia Valley, southwest of the Gaspé Peninsula.
They apparently fell out of a vehicle and were picked up by citizens and the police.
An Élections Québec official says all the ballots were recovered.
How to follow along
No matter where you are, you can follow along with us as the results come in.
Our television special begins at 8 p.m. It will be broadcast locally and on CBC News Network, and also online on the CBC Montreal, CBC Ottawa and CBC Quebec Facebook pages, as well as on YouTube and Periscope.
The live election radio special also gets underway at 8 p.m. on CBC Radio One.
You'll also find our interactive, which will track the results of all 125 ridings in real time, live blog, starting at 5 p.m., as well as breaking news and analysis on our website.