Only male British subjects (by birth or naturalisation), aged 21 or older, were eligible to vote, and only if they met a property qualification.

For tenants in smaller centers, the qualification was paying an annual rent of twenty dollars or more.

[3] Candidates for election to the Legislative Assembly had to meet stricter qualifications than voters.

To stand for election, a candidate had to Women were completely barred from membership in the Assembly.

[8][9] Two significant changes under the new law were the introduction of the secret ballot, and a requirement that all constituencies vote on the same day.

[8][11] The Act required that each municipality prepare a voter list in March of each year, based on the valuation of property and ownership used for the tax rolls.

[13] Any person who was dissatisfied by their inclusion or exclusion from the list could appeal to the local judge of the superior court or district magistrate, whose decision on the issue was final.

[14] The election began with a proclamation issued by the Lieutenant Governor of Quebec, setting the date for nomination of candidates.

The meeting was conducted at the most central and convenient location in the constituency, in a court house, city hall or registry office, between noon and one o'clock.

[26] If there was a tie between the top two candidates, the Returning Officer was required to give a written casting vote immediately to decide the election.