Division into electoral districts

Delimitation of electoral districts

The municipal council is responsible for dividing the territory into districts. The number of electoral districts in a municipality is set out in the Act respecting elections and referendums in municipalities. This number varies from 6 to 90 depending on the size of the municipality’s population.

The districts must be delimited in such a manner as to ensure fair and balanced representation of electors. To this end, the Act sets out the number of electors per district in municipalities with 20,000 inhabitants or more must not be more than 15% above or below the average number of electors per district. The permitted deviation for municipalities with less than 20,000 inhabitants is ±25 %.

Delimitation into districts must be guided by geographic, demographic and socioeconomic criteria. Furthermore, as far as possible, an electoral map must take into consideration the population’s attachment to its community.

Draft by-law to be passed

The municipal council must adopt a resolution to pass a by-law dividing the municipality’s territory into electoral districts after January 1 of the calendar year preceding that in which a general election is to be held. The draft by-law must be published in a newspaper having general circulation in the municipality’s territory.

Objection to the draft by-law

Electors can manifest their disagreement by objecting in writing to the draft by-law, within the fifteen days following publication of the notice.

In the situation where there is insufficient opposition to the draft by-law

If the number of electors who object is insufficient, the municipal council shall adopt the draft by-law and transmit it to the CRE.

In the situation where there is sufficient opposition to the draft by-law

If the draft by-law is challenged by an equal or greater number of opponents than set out in the Act, the municipal council shall hold a public meeting during which the opponents may express their views. Thereafter, it shall adopt a division by-law during a session following the public meeting. The by-law may be identical or different to the draft by-law.

Passage of the by-law

The municipal council must pass the division by-law prior to June 1 of the year preceding that in which a general election is to be held and transmit it to the CRE. If a public meeting was held on the draft by-law, the clerk or secretary-treasurer must publish a notice in a newspaper having general circulation in the municipality’s territory.

Objection to the by-law

Electors who are still not satisfied with the proposed delimitation by-law may object again by means of a petition or letter addressed to the CRE. Electors have fifteen days following the publication of the by-law to make their objection known.

In the situation where there is insufficient opposition to the by-law

If the opponents do not have sufficient numbers before the CRE, they will examine the division by-law and, where necessary, must approve or refuse it.

In the situation where there is sufficient opposition to the by-law

If a number of opponents equal or greater than that set out in the Act contest the by-law, the CRE must hold a public meeting to hear the representations of the electors, interested organizations and the municipality. The CRE then renders a final decision.

Division of a municipality’s territory carried out by the CRE

The CRE carries out the division of a municipality’s territory into electoral districts when:

• the municipality does not adopt the by-law prior to June 1 of the calendar year preceding that in which a general election is to be held;
• following a public meeting, it considers that the division adopted by the municipal council is not to be implemented.

Implementing the by-law

The division into electoral districts by-law passed by the municipality automatically enters into force on October 31 of the calendar year preceding that in which a general election is to be held. For the division into electoral districts carried out by the CRE, it enters into force on the day of the publication of the notice by the latter.