Advance voting for Quebec’s English school elections began Sunday, but voters in Montreal faced challenges, including long lines and confusing registration instructions.

With elections set for November 3, candidates say community participation is more crucial than ever, especially after the Quebec government attempted to abolish English school boards in 2020 with the introduction of Bill 40 , citing low voter turnout.

The CAQ government is seeking to replace school boards with service centers managed by unelected elected officials, which it is doing with French-speaking school boards.

However, English school boards challenged the bill in court and the Quebec Superior Court declared it unconstitutional, affirming the right of the province’s English-speaking minority to operate its own schools.

Despite the obstacles, many voters told CTV News they felt it was important to vote to protect the rights of the English-speaking community.

At the English Montreal School Board (CSEM), two candidates are vying for the position of president.

Incumbent President Joe Ortona is campaigning to retain his seat.

“We want to maintain the vitality of all our schools. I am the first president in the history of the EMSB who has never seen a school close under my leadership,” Ortona said.

His challenge is Katherine Korakakis, president of the Association of English-speaking Parents’ Committees of Quebec.

“I envision a place where our children have all the tools and resources they need to thrive, including the support needed to navigate mental health challenges,” Korakakis said.

Both candidates agree that there are too many barriers to voting, which the government has created or failed to remove.

“Registration times were very limited and locations were difficult to access,” Korakakis noted.

Eight other English school boards will also hold elections, with advance voting also taking place on Sunday.

At the Lester B. Pearson School Board, elections are underway for three commissioner positions.

Acclaimed Commissioner Allison Saunders said the recent controversy at Bedford Elementary School, where 11 teachers had their teaching licenses revoked, is an example of how school boards can function better than school service centers.

“French schools are designated by the government. So essentially you have government employees running your local schools. And to me, that leaves almost no room for change, for petitions, for anything to challenge, for anything to implement, for policies,” Saunders noted.

“It is very difficult to see how they are managed. The Bedford School is a great example of how, without this layer of parents and elected officials within the school system, this is really what was happening in the classroom, and then the government realizes it .

Meanwhile, at the Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board, voters are choosing a new president and two commissioners.

Mike Murray was acclaimed as president of the Eastern Townships School Board and said the election is a turning point for English-speaking Quebecers.

“These institutions were built by our community. Voting is a way to preserve them and send a message to government that we have distinct priorities and perspectives that must be respected,” Murray said.

-With files from Marisela Amador and Max Harrold