Our 2018-2019 Annual Management Report (in French only), which outlines our efforts over that period marked by the provincial general election, was submitted to the National Assembly and is now available for consultation on our website.
The provincial general election on October 1, 2018—the first ever fixed-date election in Québec—resulted in the election of 125 MNAs. As part of this major democratic exercise, over 6 million registered voters were called on to cast a ballot, with 66.45% of them exercising their right to vote.
A new electoral map was used for the 2018 general election, reflecting the work of the Commission de la représentation électorale (CRE) from 2014 to 2017. For the very first time, children could also vote in the election: they were asked to respond to a question on the importance of voting, using the small polling stations provided under our Voters in Training program. Over 179,000 children thus had an opportunity to take part in the electoral process.
In 2018-2019, a by-election was held in the Roberval electoral division on December 10, 2018. We also supported the returning officers of certain municipalities in organizing two general municipal elections[1], 219 by-elections, 11 recommencements of election proceedings and 10 referendum polls.
Mission-related recommendations
Each year, the submission of our Annual Management Report provides us with an opportunity to formulate recommendations aimed at ensuring a more efficient election administration process that is better adapted to present-day needs and realities. This year, the Chief Electoral Officer formulated the following eight recommendations.
- Review certain provisions concerning election officers:
- Entrust the returning officers with the recruitment of all election officers.
- Abolish the position of officer in charge of the list of electors.
- Set the minimum limit for hiring election officers at 16 years of age.
- Entrust the officers in charge of information and order with the supervision of election staff.
- Harmonize the criteria for the various voting methods with a view to simplifying them.
- Reduce the period for revising the list of electors when an election is called.
- Give the Chief Electoral Officer more latitude on how to inform voters, with a view to:
- Establishing a neutral and impartial showcase providing voters with information on the candidates and their priorities and electoral programs.
- Improving information sent to voters.
- Hold by-elections on two fixed dates during the year (during spring and fall).
- Revise the Election Act‘s provisions concerning the protection of voters’ personal information.
- Include new provisions for individuals temporarily residing in addiction treatment centres or end-of-life facilities so they can exercise their right to vote (new recommendation).
- Include democracy education in the educational curriculum for young people (new recommendation).
Consult our Annual Management Report (in French only) for further information, namely on our recommendations (p. 139).
For an overview of our institution’s 2018-2019 fiscal year, please refer to:
- L’année 2018-2019 en bref (the year in brief)
- Les élections générales 2018 en bref (2018 general election in brief)
