Montréal's Quebec election turnout lags as 900,000 vote early across the province

Nearly 900,000 Quebecers voted in advance polling through Sunday — 13.79% of eligible voters — as the province heads toward election day on October 5.

Advance voting took place Friday and Saturday at returning officers' offices, with student voting on campuses and wider polling-station voting that began Sunday. Across the province, turnout patterns showed sharp regional divides: Quebec City ridings dominated the top, with Louis-Hébert at 23.6%, Vanier-Les Rivières at 21%, and Lévis at 20.6%. On the Island of Montreal, Rosemont led at 16.3% — still well ahead of the lowest-turnout ridings, where Acadie, Saint-Laurent, D'arcy-McGee, and Marguerite-Bourgeoys each hovered around 8%.

In the West Island riding of Robert-Baldwin — home to roughly 77,000 people and nearly 40% anglophone residents — voters turned out for advance polling focused on concerns the province has long sidelined them. Residents said that health care, housing, and the protection of anglophone and allophone rights topped their priorities. Brigitte Garceau, seeking re-election as the Liberal MNA, acknowledged "pockets of poverty here in the West Island." Her CAQ opponent, Sophie Leroux, promised that while protecting French culture, "if there's services, I'll make sure as an MNA that their voices are heard."

Quebec voters have until October 1 at 2 p.m. to register or update their address before casting ballots on October 5.