Your Quebec election tool kit: where to vote, what to bring and why your vote matters

Quebec's 43rd general election is only days away, and you may be wondering what that means for you. 

Here are answers to some key questions about the big day to ensure you're eligible and well-equipped to cast your vote. 

Am I eligible to vote? 

Canadian citizens 18 and older who have lived in Quebec for at least six months can vote — but only if you're registered.

You can't cast your ballot unless your name is on the voters list. You can check that your name is registered online.

You had until Thursday at 2 p.m. ET to rectify the situation.

When is the election?

Quebec's 43rd provincial election is Monday, Oct. 3. Polling stations are open from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

A law on fixed-date elections, adopted in 2013, made the default election day the first Monday of October every four years, while also setting the campaign length to vary between 33 and 39 days. Premier François Legault launched this one Aug. 28, making it a 36-day campaign.

Is there advanced voting?

There were advance polls on Sunday and Monday but those are now closed.

Voting at the returning officer's office was possible until 2 p.m. Thursday.

Click here to find out what riding you're in and where you need to go to cast your ballot on election day. 

What do I need to bring with me to vote? 

You must have one of these pieces of ID:

• Driver's licence.
• Health insurance card.
• Canadian passport.
• Certificate of Indian Status.
• Canadian Armed Forces identity card.

Tip: Bring your notice of entry or yellow reminder card to expedite your voting process. 

What if I don't have ID?

If you don't have the required documents, election officers will try to verify your identity. You will have to declare under oath that you are in fact who you claim to be.

In this case, you have three options:

• Bring a person with you who, under oath, can attest to your identity. That person will have to bring one of the valid pieces of ID mentioned above.
• Present two documents that have your name on them, including one with your photo.
• Present two documents which, combined, provide your name, proof of address and date of birth.

Can I vote outside of Quebec? 

If you'll be temporarily outside of the province on Oct. 3, you can vote by mail, but registration was required. 

You had until Sept. 14 to make your request online on the Élections Québec website.

Who's running?

The five major political parties running are: 

• Coalition Avenir Québec (François Legault).
• Quebec Liberal Party (Dominique Anglade).
• Conservative Party of Quebec (Éric Duhaime).
• Québec Solidaire (Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois).
• Parti Québécois (Paul St-Pierre Plamondon).

Two new parties who made their political debuts and are vying for anglophone, minority and Montreal votes are:

• Bloc Montréal (Balarama Holness).
• Canadian Party of Quebec (Colin Standish).

CBC Montreal has extensive coverage about the different political parties and where they stand on issues that matter most to you.

Take the quiz to see which party's values align most with yours using CBC's Quebec Vote Compass. 

Will COVID-19 affect the voting process?

Élections Québec says it is closely monitoring the evolution of COVID-19. As it stands, mask-wearing is still only mandatory in settings like hospitals and long-term care homes. 

People who are at risk of developing complications from a COVID infection or who are self-isolating due to the virus can vote by mail.

What do first-time voters need to know? 

According to Élections Québec spokesperson Julie St-Arnaud Drolet, it's important for first-time voters to keep in mind that they won't be voting for who they want as premier on their ballots — they will be voting for candidates.

She said for those who might feel intimidated by the election, it's a good idea to check which candidates are running in their riding and focus on the individual that is representing a party. 

"Maybe focus on an issue that is particularly important — environment, education, economics," she said. 

She also said it's important that all electors stay informed by keeping up with media coverage or visiting the websites of political parties. 

Why should I bother voting? 

For some, voting can be viewed as too much of a hassle or a useless exercise. Others might think their vote won't make a difference among the sea of ballots. 

But your individual vote lets you express your opinion on the issues that are important to you and the decisions that affect your day-to-day life.

Your vote allows you to contribute financially to help the candidate or political party whose values align with yours, because each vote has a financial value.

Voting also preserves the vitality of our democracy and your right to choose who represents you.

"Sometimes voters ... think voting is for rich people or educated people or intellectuals," said Drolet.

"It's so important for us to make democracy accessible and to give the perception that everybody is concerned and everybody has access and can vote.