Advance voting begins in contested Terrebonne byelection

An arrow points to where people can go to cast their ballots on federal election day in Montreal, Monday, Sept. 20, 2021. More than a year after the Liberal government was re-elected, the independent panel report tasked with surveying foreign interference during the 2021 election has not yet been made public. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press)

Friday marks the first day of advance voting in Terrebonne ahead of the federal byelection later this month.

Polls opened at 9 a.m. in the riding north of Montreal and will stay open until 9 p.m. Advance voting will continue on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.

The byelection was called after the Supreme Court of Canada annulled the election result in Terrebonne following the April 28, 2025 general election. The Liberal candidate, Tatiana Auguste, won the hotly contested race by just one vote against her opponent, Bloc Québécois candidate Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné.

However, shortly after the election was over, a voter complained she was prevented from casting her ballot for Sinclair-Desgagné because it was rejected because of an error in the address on the envelope provided by Elections Canada.

Had her vote been counted, it could have altered the outcome of the election in that riding. The Bloc candidate later challenged the election result in court.

2 byelections in Ontario

There are two other byelections scheduled for this month, both in Ontario. However, the one in Terrebonne will be closely watched.

The byelections in Scarborough Southwest and University–Rosedale are both Liberal strongholds and no big surprises are expected.

Mark Carney’s Liberals are now just two seats away from forming a majority government in the House of Commons after some Conservative MPs have crossed the floor in recent months. A win in all three ridings would put the Liberals at 173 seats, one more than what’s needed to form a majority.

The ballot will also look a little different this time around in Terrebonne. Voters will have to use a write-in ballot because the Longest Ballot Committee has made the Quebec riding its latest target.

There are 48 official candidates listed. Elections Canada says voters will have to write in the first name, or initials, and last name of their chosen candidate, as is done on a special ballot.

Voters head to the polls on April 13.

With files from The Canadian Press