On Voting Days

What to Bring

Identification with Your Name and Toronto Address

You are required to show the election official acceptable identification to receive your ballot.

You do not need photo ID, just one piece of ID showing your name and qualifying address within the city of Toronto.

The most common forms of acceptable ID are:

• Government Issued – a document issued by the government of Canada or province of Ontario, hospital card or record, tax documents, drivers licence, photo ID card
• Bank Issued – credit card statement, bank account statement, cancelled personalized cheque, loan agreement
• Utility Bill – Hydro, telephone or cable TV, water, gas
• Employment Issued – Cheque stub, T4 statement or pay receipt issued by an employer, statement of direct deposit from Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program

Voter Information Card (VIC)

Although the VIC is not mandatory to vote, it confirms with election officials that you are on the voters’ list and speeds up your time in the voting place. If you are on the voters’ list (by September 20 at 11:59 p.m.) you will be mailed your VIC.

Check to see if you are on the voters’ list and review your information by using MyVote (beginning September 1).

What Happens in a Voting Place

Before you go to vote, check to see if you are on the voters’ list and review your information by using MyVote (starting September 1). The deadline to make changes to the voters’ list online is Sunday, October 11 at 7 p.m.

When you arrive, an election official will:

• greet and show you to where you need to go
• ask for your identification
• check your identification against the voters’ list and cross your name off the list
• put your ballot into a secrecy folder and show you how to mark your ballot
• direct you to the voting screen

You will:

• mark your ballot by filling in the oval to the right of the candidate of your choice
• vote once for each office on the ballot
  • If you make a mistake or change your mind, take the ballot to the election official who will cancel your ballot and issue you another one
• place your marked ballot in the secrecy folder and take it to the election official who will feed your ballot into the tabulator while you wait
  • If there is a problem with your ballot, the tabulator will return it. The election official will give you the option of a new ballot or having the tabulator accept the ballot as marked
  • If you have any questions on how to properly mark the ballot, any of the election officials will be happy to explain it to you

You will have successfully voted once your ballot is accepted by the tabulator.

Declarations

If Someone Questions Your Right to Vote

You must swear a declaration of qualification to ensure you are qualified.

Declaration of Qualification

I, (state your name), declare I am a qualified voter and I have not already voted in this election.

If You Need the Help of an Interpreter

You may ask anyone who is not a candidate or a scrutineer to act as your interpreter and they must swear a Declaration of Interpreter

Declaration of Interpreter

The interpreter must swear a declaration before providing assistance. They may not go behind the voting screen with you.

I, (state your name), declare I will truthfully translate any declaration, document or question put to the elector and the answer.

If You Need a Friend to Mark Your Ballot for You

If you cannot mark the ballot, you may ask a friend to help you. The friend must swear a Declaration Friend of a Voter. The person acting as a friend may go behind the voting screen with you. A person may act as a friend only once, except in nursing homes, or for family members.

Declaration Friend of a Voter

I, (state your name), declare I will:

• mark the ballot as directed by the voter
• not try to influence the voter in making their choice
• keep secret how the voter has voted