Role of DGEQ

The main organization in charge of elections for each school board is the school board itself. Under the Act respecting School elections, the director general of the school board is ex officio the returning officer.

However, the Act entrusts important responsibilities to the Directeur général des élections du Québec who "may on request, provide the returning officer with any assistance he may need to perform his duties" (s. 30.3 of the ASE). The Directeur général des élections du Québec may also "provide information to the public", notably by way of his Information Centre and by disseminating publicity. In addition, the Directeur général des élections du Québec provides training on the application of the ASE to the official representatives and agents of the candidates that he has authorized, as well as to returning officers. Moreover, the Directeur général des élections du Québec may, of his own initiative or at the request of a person, inquire into the application of a major portion of the ASE.

Responsibility concerning "financing rules".

The main responsibility of the Directeur général des élections du Québec concerning school elections is to oversee the application of Chapter XI of the ASE concerning the "Financing of candidates and the control of election expenses" (s. 206.2 of the ASE). This chapter of the ASE applies to all school boards in which a general election or a by-election is held.