Court hears challenge over Quebec's French-only voter mailouts
Quebec election mailouts spark a court fight over French-only voter notices English reminders may still go out if judges act fast before the Oct. 5 vote
A court in Montreal heard arguments Thursday in a legal challenge over Quebec’s decision to send voter information mailouts only in French ahead of the Oct. 5 provincial election.
The lawsuit was filed by Geoffrey Chambers, the former president of the Quebec Community Groups Network, now known as TALQ. His lawyers are asking for an urgent injunction that would require Élections Québec to provide English voter information as well.
Élections Québec says the change was made to comply with the province’s French Language Charter, also known as Bill 96. The agency told the court it is now too late to reprint some election documents, but said English reminder cards could still be sent if a ruling comes soon.
Government lawyers argued that voters can still get information in English through a hotline and QR codes on the mailouts. The judge did not issue a decision on Thursday but said he understood the urgency of the case.