Next municipal elections: November 2, 2025
During the next general municipal elections on November 2, 2025, citizens will be invited to elect a mayor as well as councillors who will be responsible for the administration and development of their municipality.
At the heart of municipal democracy, the Council is made up of seven elected officials: six councillor positions and one mayor. All positions are elected by the municipality’s eligible voters at large.
The municipality is not divided into districts.
The role of the municipal council is to ensure the quality of life within the community. Councillors gather during council meetings to make decisions in the best interest of the citizens they represent.
Mayor
The elected mayor represents the entire population of the municipality. They preside over council meetings and work in collaboration with the other council members. The mayor also holds the right to oversee, investigate, and supervise the operation of municipal services, thereby ensuring transparency on behalf of the community. In addition, the mayor conveys the mandates set by the council to the municipal administration, oversees the application of bylaws and resolutions, and shares any information deemed to be of public interest.
The mayor must also ensure that municipal revenues are collected and spent in accordance with the law. They may also take part in other democratic bodies, such as the regional county municipality (MRC) council.
The mayor holds a suspensive veto power, which allows them to refuse to approve certain council decisions and thus withhold their signature on related documents. This veto can be overturned if the decision is adopted again by an absolute majority of council members.
While the mayor participates in council decision-making, they are not required to vote unless necessary. In the case of a conflict of interest, they must abstain from both discussion and voting. In urgent situations threatening public safety or municipal infrastructure, the mayor has the authority to approve emergency expenditures and award contracts to address the situation.
A mayor may also be appointed as the warden (préfet) of a regional county municipality (MRC), as this position is generally assigned by the MRC council from among the mayors of its member municipalities.
Councillor
Municipal councillors play a key role in shaping important decisions within their community.
In addition to attending council meetings and representing the interests of their constituents, councillors may advise the council on specific matters.
They may be appointed to commissions or committees or be assigned specific files to explore in greater depth in order to support council decisions.
Councillors are required to vote on every motion brought forward at council meetings, unless they are in a conflict of interest.
A councillor may also serve as acting mayor. In the mayor’s absence or in the case of a vacancy, the councillor designated by council assumes the mayor’s duties.
The political role of an elected official also includes being attentive to the citizens they represent. This involves listening to their concerns, grievances, and proposals, and bringing them forward to the municipal council.
The most important way to take part in municipal life is by exercising your right to vote in municipal elections.
The more citizens engage in municipal life, the more their opinions, needs, and interests are known to elected officials and taken into account in public decision-making. Voting is one of the most accessible ways for the public to participate.
To vote in the municipal election on November 2, 2025, you must, on election day:
- Be 18 years of age or older;
- Be a Canadian citizen;
- Not be under curatorship;
- Not have been convicted of an offence that constitutes a corrupt electoral practice;
- Be listed on the electoral roll.
In addition, on the same date, you must meet one of the following conditions:
- Be domiciled in the municipality and have been residing in Québec for at least six months;
- Since September 18, 2025, be the owner of a property or the occupant of a place of business located within the municipality.
An elector who is not domiciled in the municipality but owns property or occupies a place of business within the municipality must submit the Application for Registration on the Electoral List form (SMR-9.2).
If a property or place of business has co-owners or co-occupants, they must designate one person only among them to be registered on the electoral list using a proxy form (SMR-9.1), which must be submitted to the municipality.
To vote in an election, you must present one of the following pieces of identification:
- Québec Health Insurance Card
- Québec Driver’s Licence
- Canadian Passport
- Certificate of Indian Status
- Canadian Forces ID Card
Advance voting will take place on October 26, 2025.
Election day will be held on November 2, 2025.
Details regarding the voting location and hours for the 2025 general election will be announced shortly.
Eligibility Requirements
To run as a candidate in your municipality’s general election, you must first determine whether you meet the conditions to seek a seat on council. This is referred to as eligibility.
To be eligible, a person must:
- Be entitled to be registered on the municipality’s electoral list by meeting the following criteria as of election day:
- Be 18 years of age or older;
- Be a Canadian citizen;
- Not be disqualified from voting;
- Not have been found guilty of a corrupt electoral practice;
- Meet one of the following conditions:
- Be domiciled in the municipality and have resided in Québec for at least six months, since May 2, 2025, at the latest;
- Be the owner of a property or the occupant of a place of business in the municipality for at least 45 days, since September 18, 2025, at the latest. For example, owning a cottage qualifies;
- Reside in the municipality at the time of filing their nomination;
- Not be in a situation of ineligibility.
It is your responsibility to verify whether you meet the eligibility requirements to run for a council position in your municipality.
Resources
Returning Officer: Ms. Francine Crête
Election Secretary: Ms. Jocelyne Madore