Voters in the Quebec riding of Terrebonne are already getting a head start ahead of the April 13 federal byelection, with advance polls open all long weekend from Friday through Monday.
The race has been marked by recounts and a Supreme Court challenge that overturned the initial result, making turnout a potentially decisive factor.
“I suspect that the Liberal strong will be out to support the campaign,” said political analyst Karim Boulos. “They have to hit that 173 to make it worth their while to be able to run the government the way they want.”
Prime Minister Mark Carney has called three byelections for April 13, two in the Toronto area and one in Quebec. A sweep of all three would give the Liberals a majority government.
“Do we vote for the Bloc Québécois, which will be just a protest vote? Or do we ensure that our MP is on the side of the governing party?” Boulos added.
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The last vote in Terrebonne came down to the wire. Liberal Tatiana Auguste was initially declared the winner, before losing to Bloc Québécois candidate Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné after validation. A judicial recount flipped the result by a single vote, and a mail-in ballot issue ultimately brought the case to the Supreme Court, which overturned the result.
Now, voters are heading back to the polls, seeking a clear outcome.
“I changed,” said Danielle, a voter about her choice this time round being different from the last federal election held. “I think it was important to make another election.”
Hughe Beaudoin, another voter, described the process as “an error from certain people, and we have to pay for it. It’s a matter of participation and involvement in the election process.”
Marie-Christianne said the redo was difficult for residents: “It’s not easy for those who lived through that. It’s not easy to start over with something that should have been a done deal.”
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Voting will also look different this time. Ballots are blank, and voters must write in their candidate’s name. Elections Canada says the change was made after unusually long candidate lists in past elections. Candidate names will be available at each table.
“Some people worry about spelling mistakes, but what’s important is that your intention is clear,” said Matthew McKenna a spokesperson for Elections Canada.
Francine said the process is lengthy and “not for everyone,” while Danielle added, “It’s different than just putting an ‘X’, but you vote for the person you want, so there’s no mistake to make.”
