When is the municipal election? How do I land a city of Toronto election job? Your primer to this year’s vote

The Star answers key questions about the municipal election.

Thestar.com
Sept. 6, 2022
Ben Cohen

Next month, Ontarians will get to vote in the elections that arguably affect their lives most. Municipal elections have the power to shape cities, and can change how cities treat people.

The vote in Toronto comes at a time of declining civic engagement, with a larger percentage of council seats vacant than any election in the past decade.

To help Torontonians seize this opportunity to represent themselves, the Star has prepared a primer of key questions.

When is the municipal election?

Municipal elections in Ontario are held every four years on the fourth Monday in October. This year, they will be on Oct. 24. In Toronto, in-person voting will be available from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Where do you vote in the Toronto election?

A tentative list of poll locations for each ward is available at toronto.ca/city-government/elections/city-elections/voting-places.

Who can vote in city elections?

Any Canadian citizen, 18 or older on the day of the election, who is a resident or property owner in the municipality they wish to vote in.

How early can you vote in the municipal election?

Advanced voting starts Oct. 7 and lasts until Oct. 14. Most wards have advanced voting locations visible on the tentative poll location list. To find them, click through to the last page of poll locations for your ward and look for the poll marked “AV” for advance vote.

As of Friday, all wards other than Ward 5, York South--Weston and Ward 10, Spadina--Fort York have AV polls listed. All voting locations are still subject to change.

How do you vote by mail?

Applications for mail-in ballots opened Thursday and the deadline is Sept. 23. at 4:30 p.m.

You can apply online at myvote.toronto.ca/mailinvoting.

Once your application is approved, you will receive your ballot by mail before Oct. 5. It must be mailed back with your vote by Oct. 21.

There will also be one mail-in voting drop box in each ward where you can hand deliver your ballot. They will be available from Oct. 7 to noon on Oct. 21.

How to get a job with city elections?

Toronto aims to hire more than 15,000 people to help with the election. Working one of these jobs means you cannot run in the election, nor can you support or oppose any of the candidates.

Jobs pay between $235 to $425 for 13 hours of work, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., on election day -- plus training.

Criteria for the jobs include being eligible to work in Canada and being fully vaccinated. Some jobs require access to a cellphone, some require you have a vehicle and some will need you to be able to lift up to 40 lbs.

You also cannot be a family member of any election candidates.

To apply, visit electionjobs.toronto.ca and create an account. A list of open jobs is available at toronto.ca/city-government/elections/about-election-jobs.

Who is running for mayor of Toronto?

There are 31 registered mayoral candidates, including incumbent John Tory. You can see a list, with contact information, of all of them -- plus your local candidates for city council and school board trustee -- at myvote.toronto.ca/candidateslist after inputting your address.

Among those opposing Tory are Gil Penalosa, a prominent urbanist, and Sarah Climenhaga, an environmental and sustainability advocate who finished sixth in 2018 when Tory won the most votes in every ward across the city.

For more information on mayoral and council candidates, see the Star’s early election guide from city hall bureau chief David Rider.

Who is running for mayor of Brampton?

Incumbent Patrick Brown, seeking a second term, has five challengers this year. Brown was recently disqualified from running for leader of the federal Conservative party due to allegations of a breach of election financing rules.

Candidates for Brampton’s mayor are: Vidya Sagar Gautam, Nikki Kaur, Prabh Kaur Mand, Tony Moracci and Bob Singh.

A full list of mayoral and city councillors is available here.