Letter to the Minister of the French Language
Mr. Jean-François Roberge
Minister of the French Language
Minister Responsible for Democratic Institutions
By email: ministre@mlf.gouv.qc.ca; Jean-Francois.Roberge.CHMB@assnat.qc.ca
Subject: Access to Electoral Services in English
September 25, 2026
Dear Minister,
As President of TALQ, an organization that works to support the vitality of Quebec’s English-speaking community in a proudly French Quebec, I am writing to express our serious concern following recent reports that Élections Québec has instructed election workers to communicate with voters in English only if they declare that they are eligible for English-language education or are members of Indigenous communities.
According to these reports, election workers have been provided with specific questions to determine whether a voter may receive assistance in English. Otherwise, they are to inform the voter that the conversation must continue in French.
Whatever the requirements of the Charter of the French Language, the administration of an election should be guided first and foremost by the principle that every eligible voter must be able to participate fully in the electoral process, without unnecessary barriers. The right to vote is a fundamental democratic right. The electoral process should not become a place where additional barriers are placed in the way of exercising that right.
We recognize that Élections Québec must operate within the applicable legislative framework. However, requiring voters to establish their eligibility to communicate in English risks creating confusion and discouraging participation. Élections Québec has itself confirmed that it relies on the voter’s declaration and that no documentary proof is required. We therefore question the necessity of this series of questions.
We ask that you work with Élections Québec to eliminate this procedure and instead place trust in the good faith and common sense of Quebec voters. A person who asks to communicate in English with an election worker should not have to pass an eligibility test before being able to understand the process and participate fully in the vote.
These developments are particularly concerning in light of the recent decisions by Justice Sylvain Lussier of the Quebec Superior Court regarding access to electoral information in English. On September 16, Justice Lussier ordered Élections Québec to prepare voter reminder cards in French and English, recognizing the serious risk of prejudice to Quebecers who do not understand French. On September 21, he extended that order until election day and ordered Élections Québec to mail the bilingual cards once they had been prepared.
Although these orders concern electoral information rather than interactions with election workers, they point to the same fundamental principle: barriers that may impede a voter’s meaningful participation in an election must be taken seriously. It is difficult to reconcile this principle with requiring a voter to establish their eligibility before being able to communicate in English with an election worker.
With advance voting beginning this weekend, there is little time to address these concerns. We therefore ask that you clarify, with Élections Québec and with respect for its institutional independence, the instructions provided to election workers and ensure that voters seeking assistance in English can receive it without unnecessary barriers at polling stations.
The right to vote is a cornerstone of our democracy. Its exercise should be facilitated, not complicated, by the institutions responsible for administering our elections. We trust that you share our commitment to ensuring that every eligible Quebecer can participate in this election with confidence and dignity.
Yours respectfully,
Eva Ludvig
President
cc: Ms. Christine Fréchette, Premier of Quebec
Mr. Jean-François Blanchet, Chief Electoral Officer of Quebec