Posters up! Quebec municipal election campaigns begin

As Montreal’s municipal campaign kicks off, analysts warn of declining voter turnout, especially among young people.

Friday marks the official start of the election period for municipal elections in Quebec, which will take place on Nov. 2.

The start of the election period means that candidates can begin putting up their signs.

Many posters already began appearing on the streets by Friday morning.

According to Quebec government data, approximately 8,000 municipal positions will be up for election on Nov. 2 in the province’s 1,100 municipalities.

Those wishing to run for office have until Oct. 3 to submit their candidacy. Women and young people are encouraged to run, as both groups are under-represented on municipal councils.

It is already known that there will be a change at the head of the province’s largest city, Montreal, as the current mayor, Valérie Plante, is not seeking a third term.

Luc Rabouin of Projet Montréal, Soraya Martinez Ferrada of Ensemble Montréal, and Craig Sauvé of Transition Montréal are the candidates of the main parties in the metropolis.

In Quebec City, Mayor Bruno Marchand is asking voters to give him a second term. The man who succeeded Régis Labeaume in 2021 is facing off against former provincial minister Sam Hamad, among others.

Stéphane Boyer (Laval), Catherine Fournier (Longueuil) and Julie Dufour (Saguenay) will be seeking re-election.

In Saguenay, Dufour is facing, among others, Andrée Laforest, who, until recently, was Minister of Municipal Affairs.

The mayor of Gatineau, Maude Marquis-Bissonnette, who was elected last year in a byelection following the resignation of France Bélisle, is also seeking a new term.

Évelyne Beaudin (Sherbrooke), Gilles Lehouillier (Lévis) and Jean Lamarche (Trois-Rivières) will be stepping down.

Advance polling will take place on Oct. 26, one week before election day.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Sept. 19, 2025.