Summary#
Montréal city council approved two agreements with Quebec’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and the Directeur général des élections du Québec (chief electoral officer). They provide for two pilot projects in any Montréal by-election before the 2029 general election: candidate photos on ballots and candidate profiles on the Élections Montréal website. City staff say the goal is to continue election measures they believe can make voting easier.
- The pilots apply only if a by-election is held during that period; the decision does not call an election.
- The City, the minister and the chief electoral officer are parties to the agreements. City staff say each pilot must be planned and ratified at least 30 days before an election period begins.
- The resolution approves the agreements; the staff summary lists signing them and publishing them in the Gazette officielle du Québec as next steps.
What it means for you#
- Voters: If a by-election is held and the agreements are put into effect, ballots will include candidate photos and Élections Montréal will present candidate profiles online.
- Candidates: Their photos may appear on ballots, and their profiles may appear online. The materials do not set out the rules for providing or displaying these profiles.
- The City: Élections Montréal will publicize and prepare to operate the pilots if a by-election is needed.
- The decision does not change who can vote or how votes are counted.
Money#
City staff expect no significant financial impact, but give no cost estimate.
- If a by-election occurs, its costs are to be included in that election’s budget estimates.
- The materials do not give staffing costs or a separate cost for either pilot.
What is unclear#
- The agreements themselves are not included, so their detailed rules and responsibilities cannot be checked.
- The materials do not say what information profiles may contain, how candidates submit them, or what happens if a candidate does not provide one.
- The exact cost will depend on whether a by-election occurs and is not stated.
Case for#
- City staff say the photo and profile pilots continue measures used in Montréal’s 2025 general election. They report that nine in ten people surveyed after voting found ballot photos useful, and that most surveyed found candidate profiles useful.
- A possible argument for approving the agreements in advance is that the City can prepare for a by-election rather than seek approval after one is called.
Case against#
- The materials provide no cost estimate, even though a by-election would bring added expenses.
- It is unclear how candidate profiles will be handled if candidates do not take part or provide the same kinds of information.