Élections Québec will mail its voter information cards in French only ahead of the provincial election, citing legislation adopted in 2022 that makes French the sole language of communication for public institutions.
What the electoral authority says
The provincial elections agency confirmed that printed voter information cards that in past contests were issued in both English and French will now be sent out exclusively in French. The change is being made to comply with the 2022 language law, the agency said.
Voters will still be offered access to information in English via a QR code printed on the French-language documents that links to online content. Indigenous electors and people judged eligible to receive English instructions must contact Élections Québec to request printed documents in English.
Timeline for delivery and voting
Élections Québec said electors should receive their information cards by Sept. 18. The provincial vote is scheduled for Oct. 5.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Expected delivery of information cards | Sept. 18 |
| Election day | Oct. 5 |
Who must request English materials
Under the electoral agency's plan, only certain voters will receive printed English documents automatically. Others who require English materials are asked to contact Élections Québec directly to obtain them. The agency underlined the use of a QR code on the mailed card as the means by which English-language information will otherwise be provided.
- Printed French-only cards will be mailed to voters.
- QR code on the card links to English-language information online.
- Indigenous voters and those eligible for English instructions must contact Élections Québec to request English documents.
Practical concerns and local impact
The change affects the reading experience of many voters who previously received bilingual material at their door. For voters without reliable internet access, the shift to an online English alternative could create an additional hurdle when preparing to vote.
Indigenous communities, where connectivity varies across the province, may be particularly affected; the agency’s direction that Indigenous electors should contact Élections Québec to request printed English documents places responsibility on individuals to make that request.
Election authorities have a short timeframe to ensure that mailed materials arrive before advanced voting and election day. The agency’s assurance that cards will be delivered by Sept. 18 sets an administrative deadline for processing requests for alternate-language documents and for voters to plan their participation.
Background
Élections Québec framed the move as compliance with provincial legislation enacted in 2022 that requires public institutions to use French as their sole language of communication. In previous elections, the standard practice had been to produce voter information cards in both official languages.
Beyond the immediate administrative change, the decision touches on broader debates about language, access to services and the rights of minority-language communities in Quebec. Voters who need documents in English or have questions about the format of materials are directed to contact Élections Québec.
With the campaign under way and the vote set for Oct. 5, the next weeks will test whether the combination of French printed materials, an English-language QR-code resource and on-request English printouts will meet the needs of all eligible voters.
