Advocates say Quebec rules keep unhoused voters from polls as election nears

Advocates argue that Quebec's strict voter requirements hinder unhoused individuals from participating in elections as the Oct. 5 election approaches. Marcel Dionne Jr., 66, who has lived in transitional housing for four months, intends to list the facility's address on his ballot. Despite his concerns about rent costs, he emphasizes the importance of voting.

However, Quebec's voting rules are more stringent than federal rules, potentially disenfranchising over 12,000 homeless people, a group that has grown by nearly 20% in four years. Scarlett Martinez of TAPAJ Québec, a community group, advocates for changes to make voting more accessible for the homeless. Currently, only less than one percent of those experiencing homelessness cast a ballot.

Elections Canada allows polling stations at community organizations like shelters, but Élections Québec's proposal to implement this initiative faced opposition from PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, citing fears of "electoral fraud." Quebec permits unhoused voters to verify their identity through a statement signed by a community organization, yet this method may not suit all homeless individuals due to limited access to support.

At the Old Brewery Mission shelter in Montreal, about a dozen residents expressed their intention to vote, but some feel disillusioned and have lost faith in politics. The public consultation office recommended in 2025 that Quebec align its voting rules with those of Elections Canada, noting that excluded individuals lose their sense of rights and voice.

Robert Brunet, a local rights defense worker, warns that social profiling at polling stations could further discourage homeless individuals from voting.