A by-election will be held on February 23, 2026, in the electoral division of Chicoutimi

20 January 2026 by David Vallières

A by-election will be held on Monday, February 23, 2026, in the electoral division of Chicoutimi. Under an order of the gouvernement du Québec issued today, the Chief Electoral Officer, Mr. Jean-François Blanchet, is responsible for organizing the election and ensuring its integrity.

Here are some important dates in the election period:

• Broadcasting, publishing or posting election-related advertising prohibited: from January 21 to 27 (election signs are allowed).
• Nomination period: from January 22 to February 7.
• Period for registering or making changes to the list of electors: from February 2 to 19.
• Voting days at the office of the returning officer: February 13, 14, 17, 18 and 19.
• Advance polling days: February 15 and 16.

Working at the election

Anyone who has the right to vote in Québec may apply online to work at this election (in French). You do not have to live in the electoral division to work there.

Young people aged 16 and 17 can also work during this election, if they are Canadian citizens and have been domiciled in Québec for at least six months. This work experience will give these future electors a better understanding of the polling proceedings.

Deadlines for certain voting options

Electors who want to use certain voting options must apply before a certain deadline.

• Electors who want to register to vote outside Québec, by mail, must do so no later than February 4;
• Electors who are unable to move about for health reasons may apply to vote at home until February 9;
• Those wanting to register to vote in their room in a residential facility (rehabilitation centre, hospital centre, palliative care hospice or addiction resource) must do so no later than February 9.

Political contributions

In a general election year, electors can contribute up to $200 per year to each of the authorized political parties and independent candidates. From the date on which the seat of member of the National Assembly (MNA) became vacant until March 25, electors in the Chicoutimi electoral division can also contribute up to an additional $100.

Information about by-elections in Québec and the Chicoutimi electoral division

• The Election Act stipulates that the government must order a by-election when an MNA seat in the Assemblée nationale becomes vacant more than six months before the date of the next general election. The government must issue the order to institute the by-election no later than six months after the vacancy of the seat.
• The MNA seat in the Chicoutimi electoral division became vacant on September 4, 2025.
• The estimated cost of a by-election is $800,000, based on the costs of the last three by-elections. Election staff remuneration accounts for more than 50% of election-related expenses.
• For the October 3, 2022, provincial general election, nearly 46,000 people were registered on the list of electors in the Chicoutimi electoral division. The voter turnout was 68.73%; across Québec, it was 66.15%.
• The last by-election in Chicoutimi was held on April 11, 2016. Voter turnout was 41.10%. In the August 11, 2025, by-election in the Arthabaska electoral division, the turnout was 59.98%.
• An information sheet on the Chicoutimi electoral division is available on the Élections Québec website (electionsquebec.qc.ca). This electoral division was created in 1853. Today, it includes the Chicoutimi borough of the city of Saguenay, which corresponds to the former city of Chicoutimi, as it existed in 2002.

About Élections Québec

Élections Québec is a non-partisan and independent institution striving to ensure the integrity, transparency, and reliability of elections and to contribute to the vitality of the Québec democracy.

Get general information

15 December 2025 by David Vallières

Since June 1, 2023, we use French in our communications. However, we may use English with people declared eligible to get an education in English and with members of Native communities. If you wish to communicate with us in English, you must certify in good faith that you are part of one of these groups. If you don’t, we will use French.

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Municipal Election: Start of the Election Period

18 September 2025 by David Vallières

Tomorrow, a general election will be called in 1,100-some Québec municipalities and 21 regional county municipalities (RCMs), which are listed in the appendix. The purpose of this election is to fill mayor, councillor of the municipality and RCM warden seats.

A few dates to remember:

• Nomination period: September 19 to October 3 at 4:30 p.m.
• Revision of the list of electors: between October 11 and 21 (dates vary from one municipality to another)
• Voting at the office of the returning officer, in certain municipalities: October 24, 27, 28 and 29 (dates and times vary from one municipality to another)
• Advance poll: Sunday, October 26 and, in some municipalities, Saturday, October 25
• Polling day: November 2 

On polling day, the number of polling stations ensures that a large number of electors can be accommodated efficiently.

Other voting options 

In all municipalities, electors with reduced mobility and those unable to travel for health reasons can request that a voting team come to them. The mobile polling station will go to their domicile.

Some municipalities offer the option to vote by mail to electors who own a building (cottage, apartment building, etc.) or who occupy a business establishment in the municipality, but whose domicile is in another municipality.

In both cases, eligible electors must submit a request to the municipality’s returning officer before the end of the revision of the list of electors.

Communication campaign

To support the municipalities, Élections Québec will launch a three-pronged communication campaign over the next few days to encourage voter turnout through messages raising awareness of the importance of voting. It will also list the essential conditions for voting, such as confirming one’s entry on the list of electors. In addition, it will encourage the public to work during the election to support municipalities in their recruitment efforts.

Working for the election

Each municipality must fill several positions (in French) to ensure the smooth operation of the election. Anyone wanting to work for a municipal election must submit an application to the municipality’s returning officer.

Control of election expenses

From Friday until polling places close on November 2, the Chief Electoral Officer will be applying the rules set out in the act to control election expenses in municipalities with a population of 5,000 or more. This control is meant to prevent the power of money from upsetting the balance of opportunities for candidates promoting their candidacy. In the interests of financial fairness, the act stipulates that the election expenses of candidates running for the same seat in a municipality be limited to the same amount. Therefore, any goods or services that are used during the election, that have a cost or a value on the market and that have a partisan effect must be paid for exclusively from the election fund of the political parties and authorized independent candidates, with the approval of their official agents.

General municipal elections in Québec

• Since 2005, municipalities have held their general election at the same time. There are therefore 1,100-some separate elections taking place simultaneously.
• Each municipality is responsible for holding its own election. The clerk or clerk treasurer generally acts as the returning officer.
• Élections Québec supports municipalities in organizing their elections and informs the population to promote voter turnout. The Chief Electoral Officer oversees political financing and the control of election expenses, among other duties. The Chief Electoral Officer also acts as the public prosecutor if a criminal offence is committed under the Act respecting elections and referendums in municipalities.
• The Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l’Habitation is responsible for the general application of the Act. Its responsibilities include promoting nominations (in French).
• The last general municipal election was held on November 7, 2021. The voter turnout was 38.7% across Québec, six percentage points less than the 2017 voter turnout, which was 44.8%. Turnout varies widely from one municipality to another, from less than 30% to over 80%.

About Élections Québec

Élections Québec is a non-partisan and independent institution striving to ensure the integrity, transparency, and reliability of elections and to contribute to the vitality of the Québec democracy.

In addition to ensuring the smooth operation of provincial elections, Élections Québec supports municipalities in organizing their elections and ensures the application of the rules on political financing. The institution also acts as a public prosecutor to ensure compliance with Québec electoral legislation.

A by-election will be held on August 11, 2025, in the electoral division of Arthabaska

8 July 2025 by Mylène Gauthier

A by-election will be held on Monday, August 11, 2025, in the electoral division of Arthabaska, in the Centre-du-Québec region. Under an order of the gouvernement du Québec issued today, the Chief Electoral Officer, Mr. Jean-François Blanchet, is responsible for organizing the election and ensuring its integrity.

Here are some important dates in the election period:

• Broadcasting, publishing or posting election-related advertising prohibited: from July 9 to 15 (election signs are allowed);
• Nomination period: from July 10 to 26;
• Registration or modification period to the list of electors: from July 21 to August 7;
• Voting days at the office of the returning officer: August 1 and 2 and August 5, 6 and 7;
• Advance poll days: August 3 and 4.

Working at the election

Anyone who has the right to vote in Québec may apply online to work at this election (in French). You do not have to live in the electoral division to work there.

Young people aged 16 and 17 can also work during this election, if they are Canadian citizens and have been domiciled in Québec for at least six months. This work experience will give these future electors a better understanding of the polling proceedings.

Deadlines for certain voting options

Electors who want to use certain voting options must apply before a certain deadline.

• Electors who want to register to vote outside Québec, which is done by mail, must do so no later than July 23;
• Electors who are unable to travel for health reasons may apply to vote at home until July 28;
• Those wanting to register to vote in their room in a residential facility (rehabilitation centre, hospital centre, palliative care hospice or addiction resource) must do so no later than July 28.

Political contributions

Electors can contribute up to $100 per year to each of the authorized political parties and independent candidates. From the date on which the seat of MNA (member of the National Assembly) became vacant until September 10, electors in the Arthabaska electoral division can also contribute up to an additional $100. Therefore, they can contribute up to $200 in 2025.

Information on by-elections in Québec and on the Arthabaska electoral division

• The Election Act stipulates that the government must order a by-election when an MNA (member of the National Assembly) seat in the Assemblée nationale becomes vacant more than six months before the date of the next general elections. The government must issue the order instituting the by-election no later than six months after the vacancy of the seat.
• The MNA (member of the National Assembly) seat in the Arthabaska electoral division became vacant on March 18, 2025.
• For the October 3, 2022, provincial general election, more than 60,000 people were registered on the list of electors in the Arthabaska electoral division. The voter turnout was 74.10%; across Québec, it was 66.15%.
• The last by-election in Arthabaska (in French) was held on December 5, 2016. Voter turnout was 43.14%.
• An information sheet on the Arthabaska electoral division can be found on the Élections Québec website (electionsquebec.qc.ca).

About Élections Québec

Élections Québec is a non-partisan and independent institution striving to ensure the integrity, transparency, and reliability of elections and to contribute to the vitality of the Québec democracy.

A by-election will be held in the electoral division of Saint-Henri–Sainte-Anne on March 13

6 February 2023 by David Vallières

A by-election will be held on Monday, March 13 in the electoral division of Saint-Henri–Sainte-Anne.

If you are interested in working during this by-election, you can apply online. Young people who are 16 or 17 years old can work in provincial elections – provided they are Canadian citizens, have been residing in Québec for at least six months, and meet certain other conditions. Visit our web page for more information about that.

You can find additional information on this by-election by visiting our website at www.electionsquebec.qc.ca.

Saint-Henri–Sainte-Anne: Apply online

10 January 2023 by David Vallières

The recruitment period (in French) is underway for the upcoming by-election in the Saint-Henri–Sainte-Anne electoral division. The by-election date has not yet been determined.

It’s official! Provincial elections will be held on October 3

28 August 2022 by David Vallières

Today’s election order officially triggers the election period, which will begin tomorrow. Visit our website regularly for voting information and be sure to mark polling day (October 3) on your calendar.

Interested in working during the elections? If so, you can apply online now. Young people who are 16 or 17 years old can now work in provincial elections – provided that they are Canadian citizens, have resided in Quebec for at least six months and meet certain other conditions. Visit our website for more information.

For complete election information, visit our website at www.elections.quebec.

A by-election will be held in the electoral division of Marie-Victorin on April 11

9 March 2022 by David Vallières

A by-election will be held on Monday, April 11 in the electoral division of Marie-Victorin.

If you are interested in working during this by-election, you can now apply online. Please note that young people who are 16 or 17 years old can now work in provincial elections – provided they are Canadian citizens, have been residing in Quebec for at least six months and meet certain other conditions. Visit this web page for more information about that.

You can also find additional information on this by-election by visiting our website at www.elections.quebec/en.