A recent Quebec court decision has extended the requirement for Élections Québec to send out voting reminder cards in both French and English. The ruling by Justice Sylvain Lussier temporarily suspended parts of Quebec’s French language Charter to allow the provincial elections agency to prepare and mail out these bilingual cards in time for the upcoming provincial election on October 5.
The controversy arose due to a new law implemented in 2022 mandating that public institutions, including Élections Québec, communicate primarily in French. This led to the agency initially sending out voter guides only in French at the start of the election campaign, with a QR code as an English language alternative. However, this move faced backlash from groups like TALQ, who argued that it restricted access to crucial voting information for many, particularly those without smartphones or reliable internet.
Justice Lussier’s ruling acknowledged the potential harm to Quebecers who do not speak French, emphasizing the need to ensure all citizens can fully participate in the electoral process. The court order now requires Élections Québec to proceed with mailing the voting reminders in both official languages, aiding in inclusivity and accessibility for voters leading up to the election day.
