Thousands of Quebecers vote early in advance polls

Polling stations in the Quebec City region registered the highest number of votes over the past days, as advancepolls opened across Quebec.

Since Friday, eligible voters have been able to head to the office of their local returning officerto vote. Advancepolling stations were also open on Sunday and Monday.

''Electors are responding very well. They want to vote, andthey came out in big numbers," said Julie St-ArnaudDrolet on Monday,spokesperson for Quebec'schief electoral officer.

As of Tuesday morning, 14.5 per cent of eligible voters in the province had cast a ballot. In 2014, a total of 19.27 per cent ofeligible voters had their say over the entire seven-day advance polling period.

Many of the ridings with the highest advance voter turnout are in Quebec City and will bekey ones to watch on election night.

For example, theTaschereauriding, which could becomeQubecSolidaire'sfirst seat offthe island of Montreal,has already logged22.49 per cent of votes.

Louis-Hbert still ahead

The highest participation rate (24.37 per cent) is inLouis-Hbert, a Liberal stronghold that SamHamadheldfrom 2003 to 2017.

The CoalitionAvenirQubec'sGeneviveGuilbaultwon the byelectionwhenHamadstepped down in 2017and is hoping to keep the seat.

During the 2014 provincial election, Louis-Hbertregistered the highest voter turnout in the province, 86.6 per cent, significantly higher than the provincial average(71.44 per cent).

The returning officer for Louis-Hbert,Dorothe Rondeau,said it's hard to explain why voters in the riding feel more compelled to vote.

"I think it's a population that wants to understand, that wants to express itself," said Rondeau.

Residents in Quebec Cityare also less indecisive, according to Josiane Hbert, a communications consultant with Hill and KnowltonStategies.

Based on polls the company carried out before the launch of the campaign, half ofQuebec City voters had already made up their minds, compared to 45 per cent in the rest of the province.

"There were fewer people who were undecided, so people have that will to express themselves," Hbert said.

Easier to vote

Advancepolls are also more accessible than they used to be, Hbert said.

''I remember putting my hand over a book to swear I couldn't vote on election day," she said.

That has changed significantly, with seven days now open for early birds, at polling stations and at the officeof every riding'sreturning officer.

Sunday's calm weathermay also have helped get the vote out, especially for those with reduced mobility or those who use public transportation, Hbertsaid.

"Sometimes voting resultscan comedown to something as simple as the weather."

ElectionsQubechas also put in effortto attract the youth vote, setting up advanced polling stations on university and college campuses.

"We give out a lot of info about this, so we hope there will be a big [response]from students,'' saidSt-ArnaudDrolet.

Montreal sees lowest participation

The Laurentians also saw high rates in Prvost (20.12 per cent), Joliette (20.15 per cent) and Bertrand (20.13 per cent).

In the Eastern Townships, 19.42 per centof voters have already cast their ballot in the Sherbrooke riding.

Of the 10 ridings with the lowest turnout rates, eight are in Montreal.

Pontiac, in the Outaouais, comes in fourth from last (8.99 per cent). The region was, however,recovering from the aftermath of Friday'stornado.

Voting is also open at every riding'sreturning officeron Sept. 25 and 26 fromfrom 9a.m. to 9p.mand on Sept. 27 from9a.m. to 2p.m.