Today marks an important day in Montreal as citizens head to the polls for the municipal elections. By the end of the day, a new mayor will be chosen to lead the vibrant city.
As of 4 p.m. on Sunday, Élections Montréal reported a voter turnout of 27 percent, indicating a significant level of civic engagement.
Leading up to the election, a Pallas Data poll revealed that one in three voters were still undecided about their mayoral choice, underscoring the uncertainty in the air.
The indecision was palpable as voters, like Diane, expressed their struggle in making a decision. “I just don’t know who to vote for. It will be a voting booth decision,” she shared.
Even after casting their ballots, some voters were filled with doubt. One voter mentioned, “I don’t know if I made the right choice, so I’m a little bit stressed about that. But in the grand scheme of everything, I think it’s just important to do your duty to vote.”
While different voters based their decisions on diverse factors such as specific policy proposals or personal values, like Frédérique, a social worker student, who voted for Craig Sauvé of Transition Montréal due to his stance on short-term rentals.
Jean-Christophe, another voter, expressed hope after casting his vote despite concerns about the rise of Ensemble Montréal in surveys, which he felt did not align with his values.
Youth also participated in the electoral process through Élection Montréal’s simulated voting experience at the ‘Little Polling Station,’ where they selected actions to protect the environment, with results to be revealed post-election.
For young voter Florence, the focus on more green spaces resonated. “I think we should plant more trees in the future,” she suggested.
Polling will continue until 8 p.m., after which the election staff will begin counting the votes. Stay tuned for the preliminary results, which will be gradually disclosed on the Élections Montréal website.
