Quebecers head to the polls, under half of voters have cast a ballot
Quebecers are casting their votes Monday after a five-week election campaign dominated by divisive issues like immigration, climate, the cost of living, health care, and Quebec identity.
Polls are open from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Still undecided? Check out CTV's guide to all the major parties' platforms
- Not sure how or where to vote? All the information you need is here
- Want to look back on key moments of the campaign? Visit CTV's Election Hub
CTV News has already declared Francois Legault's Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ) will form a majority government, but with many ballots still to count, there remains a lot of uncertainty for the next National Assembly.
The tightest race remains for second place, with other parties still neck-and-neck. The Liberals (PLQ) are projected to get 16 per cent of the vote, Quebec solidaire (QS) and the Conservatives (CPQ) are tied for 15 per cent, and the Parti Quebecois (PQ) at 14 per cent.
As for how that support will result in elected seats, the CAQ is projected to win 92 ridings, for a majority of the 125 total seats. The PLQ is projected to form a relatively weak official opposition with 21, QS is likely to win approximately nine, the PQ could take three, and despite popular support rivalling other parties, the Quebec Conservatives are not projected to send any candidates to Quebec City.
Party leaders spent Sunday making their final appeals to voters, hoping their stances on language, climate change, and Indigenous issues will win people over.
RIDINGS TO WATCH
Here are some of Quebec's most hotly-contested ridings:
SANT-HENRI-SAINTE-ANNE
This riding in Montreal's southwest is held by Quebec Liberal Leader Dominique Anglade. Oct. 2 polls suggest a three-way split in support for the Liberals (30 per cent), the CAQ (27 per cent), and Quebec Solidaire (27 per cent).
It's an unusually tight race for the riding which has been long-considered a Liberal stronghold.
CAMILLE-LAURIN (BOURGET)
Parti Quebecois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon is hoping to take a seat from the CAQ in Camille-Laurin, in Montreal's southeast.
Apart from being home to the PQ leader, this riding made headlines during the campaign after videos surfaced showing a QS candidate swiping her opponant's flyers from a mailbox. That candidate stepped down shortly after, leaving a tight race between the PQ and CAQ.
Polls suggest an extremely tight race between St-Pierre Plamondon and incumbent CAQ candidate Richard Campeau.
THE BEAUCE
The Beace, which is actually two Quebec City-area ridings called Beauce-Nord, and Beauce-Sud, are at the centre of the newly-popular Quebec Conservative Party's base.
Conservative Leader Eric Duhaime spent his last day on the campaign trail here, calling the area Conservative territory "par-excellence."
Polls suggest a very tight race against the CAQ in both ridings.
JEAN-LESAGE
After going deep red in 2014, voters in the riding have turned their support to the CAQ and QS. Quebec Solidaire incumbent Sol Zanetti is defending his seat from CAQ contender Christiane Gamache -- and polls suggest the race is very close.
VOTER TURNOUT
As of 5:30 p.m., just over 44 per cent of Quebec electors showed up at the polls both on election day and in advanced polling, according to Elections Quebec.
People prepare to vote, Monday, October 3, 2022 at a polling station in Quebec City. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot
In the advance poll, a record-breaking 24 per cent of Quebec electors (over 1.5 million people) cast their votes.
Elections Quebec is expected to provide updates on the Oct. 3 voter turnout throughout the day.
In the 2018 general election, voter turnout was at 66 per cent.
The lowest voter turnout was in the following ridings:
- Marguerite-Bourgeoys: 35.42 per cent (Incumbent: Hélène David)
- Bourassa-Sauve: 33.72 per cent (Incumbent: Paule Robitaille)
- Robert-Baldwin: 33.70 per cent (Incumbent: Carlos J. Leitão)
- Chateauguay: 33.09 per cent (Incumbent: Marie-Chantal Chassé)
- Acadie: 32.35 per cent (Incumbent: Christine St-Pierre)
- Jeanne-Mance-Viger: 31.79 per cent (Incumbent: Filomena Rotiroti)
- Viau: 31.7 per cent (Incumbent: Frantz Benjamin)
- Saint-Laurent: 31.57 per cent (Incumbent: Marwah Rizqy)
- Westmount-Saint-Louis: 31.12 per cent (Incumbent: Jennifer Maccarone)
- Nelligan: 29.61 per cent (Incumbent: Monsef Derraji)
- Duplessis: 25.05 per cent (Incumbent: Lorraine Richard)
- D'Arcy-McGee: 24.57 per cent (Incumbent: David Birnbaum)
- Ungava: 19.99 per cent (Incumbent: Denis Lamothe)
This is a developing story that will be updated.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.
Judge says 'no evidence fully supports' murder case against Umar Zameer as jury starts deliberations
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn't over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball's highest scorer Caitlin Clark's first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
U.S. vetoes widely supported resolution backing full UN membership for Palestine
The United States vetoed a widely backed UN resolution Thursday that would have paved the way for full United Nations membership for Palestine, a goal the Palestinians have long sought and Israel has worked to prevent.