Thirty-eight per cent of eligible voters cast a ballot in the last municipal election, meaning six out of 10 Montrealers failed the assignment.

If the August back-to-school season is when kids recommit to their studies, then this September election season must be when we grown-ups recommit to ours. The civic lessons we learned in school help us live our best lives only if we put them into practice, and the next opportunity to do so approaches.

Campaign season for the Nov. 2 vote officially begins on Sep. 19, with early voting starting on Oct. 26. So, there’s plenty of time to prepare. If Montrealers’ civic record is any indication, we’ve got lots of catching up to do.

Voter turnout for municipal elections in Montreal has been sliding for more than a decade: 43 per cent in 2013, 42 per cent in 2017; and 38 per cent in 2021. And we’re in good company — or bad, rather. The downward trend is shared off-island, too.

In Laval, participation fell from 36 per cent in 2017 to 29 per cent in 2021. In Brossard, turnout declined from 38 per cent in........

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