Due to a rotating strike at Canada Post, Élections Montréal has had to quickly adapt to ensure voter information reaches residents before the municipal election on Nov. 2.
To overcome the postal service disruption, six private companies – including couriers and a bailiff firm – have stepped in to deliver over 700,000 voter cards. Although this last-minute solution comes with a significant cost increase, it was necessary to ensure voters receive their essential information.
Montreal resident Guy Frechette expressed frustration about the sudden change in delivery methods, stating, “I feel like it’s all a mess, they have no business doing things this way, and now anybody can take my mail…”
In response to the strike delaying the initial notices, Élections Montréal divided the city into six sections, each managed by one of the private suppliers. These companies have been diligently distributing voter cards door-to-door since the previous weekend, ensuring residents receive them in a timely manner.
Approximately 650,000 voter cards were distributed by the private suppliers, with an additional 50,000 handled by the election office internally. The switch from Canada Post to private suppliers has increased delivery costs from $1.8 million to an estimated $2.7 million, marking a 50% rise in expenses.
To facilitate smooth voting procedures, additional staff have been recruited to prepare ballots and set up advance voting stations, which will commence this weekend.
Deputy returning officer Charles-André Goulet mentioned, “We’ll have more than 200 voting places across Montreal, roughly 800 polling stations with 3,000 people working.”
Notably, the voter registration count has slightly increased from 2021, with over 1.1 million individuals eligible to vote. In an exciting first for Quebec municipal elections, university students can now cast their ballots directly on campus using approximately 41 designated cards.
Despite the challenges faced with the new delivery system, some Montrealers have raised concerns about information cards being left unsecured at mailbox doors, potentially exposing personal details. Sébastien Trottier from Élections Montréal acknowledged the difficulties faced during deliveries to residential complexes, emphasizing that efforts were made to ensure secure delivery despite not having access to private mailboxes like Canada Post.
Despite the delivery hiccups, Élections Montréal reassures voters that all necessary information will be available in time for election day on November 2nd, with over 450 voting locations spread across Montreal’s 19 boroughs.
