Quebec Advance Voting
Quebec Records High Advance Voter Turnout Ahead of Contentious Provincial Election
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Key Points
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In the 2022 provincial election, turnout was less than 1 per cent in Kahnawà :ke and just under 15 per cent across Indigenous communities, compared with 66 per cent province-wide.
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The Grand Chief of Kahnawake said his community’s position is rooted in the Two Row Wampum, a 1613 agreement, which he described as an understanding that Indigenous and colonial governments would move forward on separate paths without interfering in one another’s affairs.
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In one poll cited during the campaign, the PQ was at 30 per cent, the Quebec Liberals at 26 per cent, the Quebec Conservatives at 18 per cent and Québec solidaire at 9 per cent.
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Élections Québec faced questions over a directive to ask voters whether they had the right to receive English-language communication before addressing them in English; the agency said it was following Bill 96, which restricts who can receive government communications in English.
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CTV News said it requested interviews with the leaders of Quebec’s five main parties, but CAQ Leader Christine Fréchette did not sit down for an interview.
Quebec voters head to the polls on October 5 to elect a new provincial government, with nearly a quarter of eligible voters already casting advance ballots. CBC reports that 23.6 per cent of voters participated in advance polling, while the Parti Québécois leads in polls at 30 per cent, promising an independence referendum in its first term — though affordability, immigration, and cross-border trade concerns dominate voter priorities over sovereignty.
PQ Leads Fragmented Race as Independentists Compete
The Parti Québécois holds a commanding 30 per cent polling lead, according to Toronto Sun reporting on data from Pallas CEO Joseph Angolano. The Quebec Liberals trail at 26 per cent, while the Quebec Conservatives claim 18 per cent and Québec solidaire holds 9 per cent. A PQ win would likely produce a minority government, adding uncertainty to Quebec's political future.
Advance Voting Strong While Indigenous Participation Lags
The 23.6 per cent advance turnout shows strong early engagement, with voting still available at returning offices before October 5. However, Indigenous communities continue to abstain at far higher rates. CBC notes that in the 2022 provincial election, turnout reached less than 1 per cent in Kahnawà :ke and just under 15 per cent across Indigenous communities, compared with 66 per cent province-wide.
The Grand Chief of Kahnawake roots his community's position in the Two Row Wampum, a 1613 agreement representing an understanding that Indigenous and colonial governments move forward on separate paths without interfering in each other's affairs. Indigenous leaders argue their priorities and authority over ancestral lands have received insufficient campaign attention.
CAQ Leader Breaks Interview Silence in Campaign's Final Hours
Christine Fréchette, leader of the Coalition Avenir Québec, expressed regret in the campaign's final hours, wishing she had focused more on the consequences of a potential referendum. CBC reported that Fréchette did not sit for interviews with CTV News despite requests to all five main party leaders, setting her apart from her competitors during the final stretch.
Language Directives and Election Administration Draw Scrutiny
Élections Québec faced criticism over a directive requiring staff to ask voters whether they had the right to receive English-language communication before addressing them in English. CBC reports the agency said it was following Bill 96, which restricts who can receive government communications in English. The rule sparked debate about language policy enforcement during voting.
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