A voting opportunity that happens before election day. Advance vote can be one day or multiple days.
A piece of paper containing the names of the candidates and the office they are running for. Electors vote by filling in the oval to the right of the candidate of their choice.
An election that takes place outside of a general election.
Once council or a school board has decided to hold a by-election, the clerk is in charge of conducting the by-election. The council or board does not decide when nomination day or voting day will be. These dates are determined by the clerk.
Nominations open when the council has passed the by-law ordering the by-election, or when the school board has passed a resolution ordering the by-election and sent it to the clerk who will conduct it. The filing of nominations closes at 2 p.m. on nomination day.
The clerk must set nomination day for a by-election to be no later than 60 days after council passes a by-law that the by-election is required, a school board sends a resolution to the clerk indicating that a by-election is required, or a court orders a by-election.
Voting day will be 45 days after nomination day.
The City Clerk is an Officer of the City, responsible for the duties of the Municipal Clerk as prescribed in the City of Toronto Act and other provincial legislation, including the Municipal Elections Act. The position reports to City Council legislatively, and to the City Manager for administrative purposes
The clerk is responsible for conducting and administering the elections for municipal council, as well as local school boards. The clerk’s broad powers and responsibilities during an election include:
City Council is composed of the Mayor and 25 Councillors who make decisions on behalf of their constituents – the people who vote for them in the 25 wards.
Issues are identified by the public, through staff research, as follow-up to existing programs, services or policies or as part of the everyday work of running a city and achieving Council’s priorities. Term of Office is four years.
A statement declaring that whatever said is the truth.
Municipal elections happen every four years on the fourth Monday of October.
On this day eligible electors can vote once for Mayor, once for City Councillor (in the ward where they live). They may also be permitted to vote once for School Board Trustee (based on school support and the ward where they live).
A person who is eligible to vote in the municipal election.
You can vote in the City of Toronto municipal election if you are:
You may only vote once in the City of Toronto’s municipal election regardless of how many properties you own or rent within the city.
If you live in the city and own or rent more than one property, you must vote in the ward where you live.
The City of Toronto uses a first-past-the-post system. In this system, the candidate elected is the one who receives more votes than any other candidate.
A communications piece that is delivered to every household in the city. It provides electors with information on how to vote, key election dates and how to get information in languages other than English.
The Mayor acts as chief executive officer of City Council, leads and represents the City in dealings with residents, elected officials, dignitaries and staff. The Mayor has a duty to conduct the business of the City in ways that are transparent, honest, efficient and inclusive. Responsible to ensure that City Council remains accountable and accessible to the public, the Mayor must uphold and carry out duties outlined in the City of Toronto Act, 2006 or any other Act. Term of Office is four years.
An election, event, organization or person in that there is no formally declared association with a political party affiliation, bias or designation.
An individual who owns or rents property in the city of Toronto, but lives outside the city.
An address of a property in the city of Toronto that an elector (or their spouse) owns or rents.
The permanent lodging place to which, whenever absent, a person intends to return.
An individual who lives in the city of Toronto.
In Toronto there are four school boards each with their own ward boundaries that are different from the City’s wards:
Two English:
Two French:
School Board Trustees are elected to approve the annual budget, and establish policies authorized by the Education Act, 1990. Trustees monitor and carry out policies and programs for the Ministry of Education and the school board. They consult and represent the citizens in their ward. The number of elected trustees is based on the population in the board’s area of jurisdiction. Term of office is four years.
A person representing a candidate at the voting location to observe the voting process.
A folder where a ballot is placed to conceal the names of the candidates and the marks made on the ballot by a voter.
A tabulator is a digital optical scan machine that reads and records how ballots are marked and produces election results. Each vote tabulator has a memory card that is programmed for a specific voting place. The programming allows the vote tabulator to accept ballots only for that ward and to reject over-voted and unmarked ballots. The memory card also stores the votes.
Vote tabulators are used during the advance vote period and on election day.
A vacancy occurs on a municipal council or a school board when a sitting member resigns, dies or becomes ineligible to hold office. The court can also declare a seat vacant.
After the seat has been declared vacant by a council or the court, the council has 60 days to decide whether to fill the vacancy by appointment or by holding a by-election. A school board has 90 days to decide whether to fill the vacancy by appointment or by holding a by-election.
A vacancy on a council must be filled unless the vacancy occurs within 90 days before voting day in the next general election. A vacancy on a school board must be filled unless the vacancy occurs within one month before voting day in the next general election.
The Office of Public Appointments handles vacancies.
A card sent to every elector who appears on the voters’ list. The card tells electors when and where they can vote during advance vote and on election day. Cards are delivered by mail.
The list of names and addresses of eligible electors used at the voting location.
Technology used during the municipal election. Election Services uses the following voting equipment:
A building, part of a building or other facility that voting is being conducted.
The place at the voting location where voters go to mark their ballot in private.
A geographical area represented by a member of Council. There are 25 wards in the city of Toronto.