Be sure to vote, Quebec electoral officer urges
Advance polls open Sunday, Monday across Quebec
Last Updated: Friday, November 28, 2008 | 2:48 PM ET
CBC News
Quebec's chief electoral officer is appealing to registered voters to cast a ballot in the provincial election.
Quebec may be risking its lowest voter turnout in modern history, given how soon this election is after the previous one in 2007, said Marcel Blanchet, chief electoral office.
On Friday, Blanchet issued an open letter urging voters to exercise their democratic right.
Abstaining from voting is no way to protest the government, said Denis Dion, a spokesman for Blanchet.
"More important than protesting against the fact that there is an election or not, is the fact you have to have an impact on this election," he told CBC News.
"Because, like it or not, we're in an election, so if we want to have the government we want, and not let other people decide in our place, it is important to vote."
The fact Quebecers elected their first minority government in more than a century in 2007 is proof that voting can make a difference, Dion added.
Quebec's election office has made changes to make the exercise more accessible this time around.
More than $7 million is being spent to inform Quebecers how to cast their ballots.
Advance polls will be open Sunday, Nov. 30 and Monday, Dec. 1, from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. E.T.
In the 2007 election, 10.23 per cent of registered voters cast their ballot in advance polls.
