Student Connect

Student Connect is a program that enables high school students to participate in the municipal election process by working at a voting place.

Program information:

While each school determines which students will be offered the opportunity to participate in Student Connect, Election Services suggests considering students who are:

  • Conscientious, reliable and responsible
  • Active in the school or local community
  • Enrolled in civics, politics, or law classes
  • Considering a career in customer service, public service, political science or human resources

Participating students must also:

  • Be at least 16 years of age on election day
  • Be in good standing with their school
  • Obtain school approval to participate and parental approval if under the age of 18

Download a Student Connect brochure for your school.

Three positions are available for students:

Tabulator Officer

  • Receive ballots from voters and feed completed ballots into a vote tabulator
  • Attend a 1-hour training session (training details to be provided in September 2018)
  • Must be comfortable using electronic equipment
  • Have good customer service skills
  • Pay: $185

Accessibility Officer or Information Officer

  • Greet voters as they enter the voting place
  • Ask voters to have their identification ready and direct them to the ballot officers
  • Attend a 1-hour training session (training details to be provided in September 2018)
  • Must have good customer service skills

In addition, the Accessibility Officer’s role includes ensuring access for all voters by:

  • Helping to open doors
  • Operating an elevator
  • Directing voters with disabilities to the accessible entrance
  • Pay: $185

What is Student Connect?

Student Connect is a program to connect students with their communities and provide youth a meaningful opportunity to participate in the democratic process by working in a voting place on election day.

The program provides students an opportunity to enhance the knowledge they have gained in the classroom and develop skills through practical work experience.

If I want to register, do I need to know exactly how many students will be participating?

No. The important thing is to confirm your school’s participation. We do ask that you provide an estimate of the number of interested students when you register, but the actual numbers will not have to be finalized until fall 2018.

Why would students participate?

Student Connect gives students the opportunity to gain work experience and be paid for their election day participation. It will provide them with insight into the democratic process and the important role it plays in our lives. It will also give students the opportunity to apply their learning and experiences in meaningful ways.

As a facilitator your first responsibility is to ensure your school is registered and indicate approximate number of participants.

In late August, application packages will be sent to participating schools for the facilitators to distribute to interested students. Once applications are completed, facilitators will:

  • Assign students to voting places, positions and training using the tools provided by Election Services
  • Enter the information into our staffing database
  • Complete the School Consent and For Office Use Only sections on the application form
  • Collect the forms and return them to Election Services by September 21

Your total time commitment will be approximately 20 hours over the course of the program.

Key Dates

March 8

Information and registration packages sent to schools.

May 4

Deadline to submit registration form.

August 27

Application packages mailed to participating schools.

September 21

Deadline to assign positions to students.

October 22

Election Day.

Contact

Office hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Phone: 416-338-1111 for employment press 2

Email: elect-hr@toronto.ca

Mail: Toronto Election Services Attn: Recruitment Office 89 Northline Rd., Toronto, Ontario M4B 3G1