Analyse des bulletins de vote rejetés et de l'effet du rallye pour l'unité canadienne lors du référendum québécois de 1995.

In light of recent developments in Quebec politics, this article takes a critical look at two controversial elements surrounding the legitimacy of the 1995 referendum on Quebec sovereignty, namely (1) the rejection of ballots on polling day and (2) the effect of the rally for Canadian unity held on October 27, 1995. This analysis mobilizes aggregated historical data from Élections Québec as well as individual-level survey data collected by Canadian Facts Limited in October 1995 (n = 930). The results reveal no attitudinal predictors of ballot rejection across Quebec ridings. Analyses suggest, however, the existence of a statistically significant impact of the love-in rally which may have boosted the NO option a few days before the vote, particularly outside of Montreal. This research aims to contribute to the public debate on the transparency of democratic processes in referendums. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]