After opening up a can of worms regarding possible voter irregularities and an imaginary plot to steal the vote, the Parti Quebecois is trying to bury the matter.

The PQ recently lodged a complaint -- which turned out to have no basis in fact -- that citizens from outside Quebec were attempting to steal the vote by attempting to register in five ridings in and around Montreal and Sherbrooke.

Mathieu Vandal, a riding official for Sainte-Marie-Saint-Jacques resigned on Friday, saying he believed there was an abnormally high number of anglophone and allophone applicants to vote in the area. In reality there were 200 fewer applications in that riding.

In an open letter in Le Devoir on Monday, Vandal wrote that training was minimal and the task of determining who was a legitimate applicant was complex enough to justify worries about possible fraud.

The false perception prompted a litany of PQ ministers, including Justice Minister Bertrand St. Arnaud, to suggest the Quebec election could "be stolen by people from Ontario and the rest of Canada."

Minister for Anglophones Jean-Francois Lisée hinted that students were benefitting from illegal donations made by the mafia, while Families minister Nicole Leger and former student leader turned MNA Leo Bureau-Blouin both said Elections Quebec had to better train employees.

Complaint completely unjustified

Over the weekend the Director General of Elections Quebec confirmed there were actually fewer applications to vote in four of the five ridings named by the PQ complaint when compared to 2012.

The one riding that saw an increase, Saint Henri–Sainte Anne, had 56 more people asking to be added to the electoral list than during the last revision period 18 months ago.

“The idea that the election could be stolen, that idea that there could be fraud is complete nonsense, said Denis Dion, spokesman for Elections Quebec.

“There won't be more fraud than could happen in any election and we don't expect any massive fraud from anybody.”

Now, after the DGE confirmed there are no problems with people trying to vote under false pretenses, Premier Pauline Marois said her party's concern was justified.

"This is not the case in this present debate about this issue, but some people wanted to vote even if they were not eligible to vote so that is normal for our party to ask questions to the Director General of Elections," said Marois.

Mishandled affair

Former politicians Gilles Duceppe and Yolande James agreed that the Parti Quebecois did not handle the matter very well.

"Honestly!" said Duceppe, with the idea that out-of-province students could rig the vote in Westmount.

"I would say to ask the Director General of Elections to clarify the situation is okay, but too much is just like not enough. It was not a good reaction."

James said it's obvious the PQ campaign is floundering.

"To have decided that you are going to send your minister of justice, as well as Leo Bureau-Blouin, and another minister Nicole Leger in a press conference prior to the DGE coming out to make a statement. It sends the wrong message," said James.

"It was irresponsible and it looked like they were totally panicking."

Duceppe said that while some election officials may have problems determining if someone truly is a resident of Quebec or not, the issue would be solved if people were issued permanent voter cards, instead of relying on demands made during an election campaign.

Couillard: grotesque attack

Meanwhile Liberal leader Philippe Couillard said the PQ had spent the weekend engaging in a deliberate attempt to intimidate Elections Quebec.

"It's regrettable. I can't believe it. Mme. Marois has to get her spokespeople back in line," said Couillard.

He said it was unacceptable to have the justice minister criticize Elections Quebec, which operates at arm's length from the government.

"The Director General... found there was absolutely nothing strange nor unusual compared to previous election campaigns," said Couillard.

He said the reason why the PQ decided to go public about the possible fraud -- seemingly without verifying the veracity of the claims -- is clear.

“The first manifestations of panic are beginning to be seen or heard in their ranks and to take this to the extent - I would not say attacking, but intimidating the chief electoral officer is quite regrettable.”