Deadline nears to register for English school board elections

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Time is running out for voters to ensure they can cast ballots in the Nov. 3 English school board elections.

The deadline to update the voters’ list is 10 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 15.

Quebec has nine English boards.

Most board positions were filled by acclamation, meaning the candidates were elected without opposition.

However, elections will take place at some boards.

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At the English Montreal School Board, the largest of Quebec’s nine English boards, elections will be held for all 10 commissioner seats and the board chair position.

At Montreal’s other English board — the Lester B. Pearson School Board — three commissioner positions are contested.

Voters can learn which school board covers their area by entering their postal code on an electronic form on the Elections Quebec website.

To check if they are on the list, voters should call Elections Quebec at 1-888-353-2846.

Voters can add, withdraw or correct their names during a revision period organized by their school board. Boards have posted information about the process on their websites.

At the EMSB, voters not on the list can apply for registration at the board’s headquarters at 6000 Fielding Ave. in Montreal on Oct. 15 between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.

At the Lester B. Pearson board, voters can visit the board of revisors on Oct. 15 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at St. John Fisher Sr. Elementary School at 121 Summerhill Ave. in Pointe-Claire.

Voters must bring two pieces of identification: one must show their name and date of birth and the other must show their name and home address.

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Voters on the electoral list should receive a notice in the mail in the coming days with information about voting.

Who can vote?

Voters do not have to be parents or have children in the school system.

A parent whose child is or has been admitted to an English school board should already be registered on the board’s electoral list but should confirm their status.

Parents with a child currently in a French school service centre cannot vote in English board elections.

However, anglophones and francophones who previously sent their children to French schools can choose to register on the electoral list of their local English school board.

People who do not have children can choose to vote at their local English board.

Advance voting will occur on Sunday, Oct. 27, between noon and 8 p.m.

Election day is Sunday, Nov. 3, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Court fight

The Coalition Avenir Québec government has been trying to abolish elected English boards since 2020, when French boards were eliminated.

English boards went to court, arguing the overhaul is unconstitutional because it infringes on the anglophone community’s right to manage and control its schools.

The Quebec Superior Court ruled in favour of English boards. Quebec is appealing. The case is expected to reach the Supreme Court of Canada.

The nine English boards are:

ariga@postmedia.com

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