Some candidates are urging Élections Montréal to enhance inclusivity after posting obscure and gloomy photos of Black candidates on its website. The images are part of a trial initiative to inform voters about municipal election candidates by uploading their photos and bios online and incorporating images on ballots.
Carol-Ann Hoyte, a city council candidate with Transition Montréal in the Côte-des-Neiges district, expressed discomfort with her photo on the Élections Montréal website. She highlighted the stark contrast between the photo displayed and her actual appearance, questioning the effectiveness of such an image in influencing voters.
Transition Montréal initially planned to use professional headshots of all its candidates but had to switch to passport-style black-and-white photos per Élections Montréal’s requirements. Despite adjusting the photos accordingly, Hoyte faced challenges submitting her application due to size discrepancies. Upon the photos’ publication, she observed poor quality, particularly for candidates with darker skin tones, making it difficult to discern facial features.
Joseanne Cudjoe, a scholar in critical race and gender studies at the University of Toronto, criticized the portrayal of these photos on the website, noting the reinforcement of racist stereotypes associated with darkness. She emphasized the negative implications that such imagery could have on the perception of these candidates.
Élections Montréal has acknowledged the issue and attributed the subpar quality of the photos to the rush in getting candidate profiles online before the nomination deadline. The organization is reviewing candidate information and may reupload or rescan photos to address concerns raised by candidates and the public.
Renate Betts, another Transition Montréal candidate in the Loyola district, commended Élections Montréal’s efforts to modernize the election process but emphasized the need to consider diverse representation beyond traditional standards. She emphasized the importance of inclusivity in electoral processes to avoid unintentional oversights that could hinder candidates’ opportunities.
Hoyte expressed hope that Élections Montréal would allow her to resubmit her photo, emphasizing the necessity for clearer guidance on lighting and photo standards for Black candidates in future elections. She believes that rectifying these issues is crucial to ensuring fair representation and opportunities for all candidates.
