5% of Montrealers cast ballots in advance polls

Low voter turnout may be a sign of voter apathy, despite the high stakes of this election. Maya Johnson reports.

More than 5 per cent of Montrealers have already made their pick for mayor, a slight increase over the number casting ballots in advance polls four years ago.

Advance polls are open in Montreal on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday before the official vote on Sunday Nov. 3.

That turnout, however, is lower than what was reported in other cities across Quebec, with elections officials saying that more than 14 percent of Quebec City voters had already cast ballots, and around 7 per cent of voters in Gatineau and Longueuil showing up for advance polls.

With the polls open the municipal parties are concentrating on getting their prospective voters into polling booths.

Mayoral candidate Melanie Joly spent Sunday going door to door, a rarity for her this campaign. Like all candidates, she is stressing the importance of having people vote.

In her case she said she is "making sure our message of real change is presented to the population."

Marcel Coté let his fingers do the walking as he called up citizens and encouraged them to vote.

"We're not offering pie in the sky. We're promising sound management of the tax dollars and any surplus we generate will go towards improving the streets, the infrastructure," said Coté.

Richard Bergeron has an extensive team of volunteers working for Projet Montreal, and they have been busy calling supporters and going door-to-door to encourage people to cast a ballot.

Bergeron said he will spend the final week of the campaign reminding people of his party's plans.

"Each day we will remind one of our main commitments of the last two months and more than two months," he said.

Meanwhile Denis Coderre is counting on his willingness to defend Montreal to convince people to get to the polls.

"The bottom line is who would you support . Who would think will be your true champion when there will be a major issue regarding Quebec or Ottawa," said Coderre.

In 2009, 39 per cent of Montrealers voted in the municipal election.