Quebec Election Agency Directs Poll Workers to Limit English at Voting Stations

Élections Québec issued a directive requiring polling-station staff to converse with voters exclusively in French unless the voter can demonstrate eligibility for English-language education or identifies as Indigenous. Workers are instructed to ask voters whether they have such eligibility and, if the answer is affirmative, to continue the interaction in the language the voter uses. If not, staff must revert to French, offering to repeat statements slowly to aid understanding.

Montreal GazetteCP24

The directive follows the provincial government’s appeal of a Quebec Superior Court decision that ordered election reminder cards to be printed in both English and French, a ruling that challenged the language-protection law known as Bill 96. The appeal is slated for a hearing on the day of the provincial election, where the court will consider whether the agency must suspend the French-only practice. Lawyers representing the lead plaintiff in the earlier lawsuit are also preparing a formal letter demanding that Élections Québec suspend the new English-language limits.

CP24Montreal Gazette

Lawyers preparing the formal letter indicated they will request an immediate suspension of the practice and will seek to add the issue to the ongoing constitutional challenge if the agency does not comply.

CP24

The pending appeal and the lawyers’ formal letter are expected to bring the issue before the Quebec Court of Appeal during the election period. If the court rules against the agency, Élections Québec would be required to allow unrestricted English communication at polling stations.

CP24

• “The eligibility certificate was for education, not for any other service or right,” — Sylvia Martin-Laforge, director general, TALQ

Montreal Gazette

• “We’re very disappointed to learn that they were going to proceed with a practice which is really going to discourage electors at the voting station,” — Geoffrey Chambers, lead plaintiff

CP24

• “The chief electoral officers have instituted new practices that are, in our view, in violation of the Constitution, and certainly in violation of the rights of the English-speaking voters,” — Geoffrey Chambers, lead plaintiff

CP24

• “I’m entirely disappointed Élections Québec didn’t recognize, based on the court’s ruling on the first move, that this would compromise the rights of the English-speaking population,” — Geoffrey Chambers, lead plaintiff

CP24