Election breakdown

While most citizens have an eye on their own municipality, the political landscape in a province wide context is worth considering.

The following are statistics from across Quebec regarding the recent municipal elections. The information was gathered by the returning officers of each municipality and compiled and distributed by MAMOT (The Ministry of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy).

Vacancies

This past Sunday, elections were held in 1,100 municipalities and 16 MRCS across Quebec.

There were a total of 8,031 vacancies to fill; 1,100 mayoral positions, 6,915 councillor seats and 16 prefect positions.

A poll was held for at least one elected office (mayor or councilor) in 842 local municipalities and 10 MRCS. Among them, 561 were mayoral positions, 2,909 councilor posts and 10 prefect posts were filled by ballot in 2017.

A total of 4,471 people were elected unopposed, slightly higher than in 2013 when 4,390 were elected. However, the number of municipalities whose council was fully elected without opposition has decreased from 246 in 2013 to 217 in 2017.

Women in office

The total representation of women on municipal councils has increased following the recent election.

This year, 205 women were elected as mayor and 2,358 to a council position. In 2013, 190 women had been elected mayors and 2,204 women councilors.

Women now account for 32.3 per cent of elected officials, up 2.4 per centage points from 2013.

There are now 34.7 per cent of municipal councils across the province where the proportion of women is between 40% and 60%.

New candidates in office

Of all elected officials, 41.7 per cent did not hold any elective office at the beginning of the election period. Of these newly elected representatives, 37.5 per cent are women and 36.5% are under 44 years old.

Age range of elected officials

Young people aged 18 to 34 represent 8.3 per cent of all elected officials, a similar proportion to 2013.

Since 2005, the proportion of elected officials aged 65 or over has been rising. While elected officials aged 65 and over accounted for 8.5 per cent of elected officials in 2005, this proportion this year is 20.1 per cent.

Voter turnout

The participation rate, in Quebec, for all the municipalities whose mayor or mayor was elected by poll rather than acclamation was 44.8 per cent. This rate is lower than in 2013 when it was 47.2.

The participation rate in 2017 was similar to those of 2009 and 2005, respectively 44.8 and 44.5 per cent.

The candidates

In total 12,954 men and women ran for either mayor, municipal councilor or prefect.

Among them, 4,041 women ran for seats on their municipal council, including 385 for a mayor position. They were particularly prevalent among 18-44 year olds and accounted for 40.5 per cent of candidates in that age group. Between 2005 and 2017, the number of women candidates rose from 24.7 to 31.3 per cent.

Across the province, 80 positions could not be filled after the first call for applications. The electoral procedures have been or will be taken over in order to fill them.