Parti Québécois Leader Pauline Marois, Liberal Leader Jean Charest and Action Democraticque du Quebec Leader Mario Dumont cast their ballots in their ridings on Monday. (Jacques Boissonot/Paul Chiasson/Clement Allard/Canadian Press)Quebecers are heading to the polls Monday to vote in their second provincial election in as many years.
The Quebec Liberal Party, the Action Démocratique du Québec and the Parti Québécois all hope to form the next government.
Liberal Leader Jean Charest called a snap election this fall on the grounds he needs a majority to steer the province through the global financial crisis.
The ADQ is hoping to hold on to its unprecedented gains made in the 2007 election when it elected 41 members to the legislature and formed Quebec's official opposition. Two members crossed the floor to join the Liberals prior to the election call Nov. 5.
The PQ will be looking to win back sovereigntist supporters who turned their backs on the separatist party in the last election.
Both the Green party and upstart Québec Solidaire are banking on making a breakthrough and electing a member of the provincial legislature for the first time in history.
ADQ Leader Mario Dumont urged voters to cast their ballot even if they didn't want another election.
"Not voting is rewarding the party that called this election," he said while campaigning in Thetford Mines on Sunday. "Abstaining is our worst enemy."
According to the province's election agency, more than 5.7 million Quebecers are registered to vote. Nearly 12 per cent of registered voters cast their ballot in advance polls, up from 10.23 per cent in 2007.
Polling stations are open Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET.
Any Canadian citizen age 18 and over who has lived in Quebec for more than six months can vote, as long as they are registered on the voters' list.
To cast a ballot, voters have to confirm their identity by providing one of the following documents:
- Health card.
- Driver's licence.
- Canadian passport.
- Indian status card.
- Canadian Armed Forces identification card.
Employers must provide workers with at least four consecutive hours to go vote during polling hours on election day.
