Yes, you have one vote, but that vote counts.
As all Torontonians may have noticed, Municipal Elections are taking place on October 25. Advance polling has already began, and campaigns are at their peak. This is the time for Torontonians to choose who will represent them, as Mayor, City Councilor, and School Board Trustee. These are important positions in Toronto, and as citizens of Canada, and residents of Toronto, we have a duty to choose people who represent Toronto, and will work towards building Toronto into a better city.
Voting a right that many people fought for us to enjoy today, and we need to remember that a struggle was won to allow us to vote; voting is a right we enjoy today, but it was a privilege in the past to a select few (Men with property, men of colour and women were excluded). It is important that we exercise our right to vote and choose leaders who will build Toronto into a space that is comfortable, equitable and democratic for all its residents.
When you vote, you make a decision, you tell the leaders that you have a voice that matters. You tell them your opinion matters. It tells leaders that you care about the decisions that City Hall makes, as they will affect your lives. It tells the Toronto Municipal Government what you feel is most important. By agreeing with certain opinions of leaders, and disagreeing with others, we allow democracy to work.
Choose someone who represents your value, your beliefs, and envisions Toronto the way you would Toronto to be.
Some of the things the Municipal Government is responsible for are: ambulance, Toronto police, fire and Emergency Medical Services, animal control, arts and culture, by-law enforcement, garbage collection and recycling, Toronto Public Libraries, long-term care and housing for seniors, Parks and recreation, planning new community developments and enhancing existing neighborhoods, property assessment, provincial offences administration, TTC and public transit, snow removal, road and sidewalk maintenance, social housing, social services, tax collection, water, sewage, storm sewers, etc. These are services we use in this City, why not choose how you want your money spent on these services.
Voting is your responsibility to the city. You have a voice, be heard, everyone’s listening.
Toronto Voter’s Guide
Here’s what you need to know to vote in the Oct. 25 Toronto municipal election.
1) Who can vote?
You can vote in the municipal election if you are:
- a Canadian citizen
- at least 18 years old
- a resident of the City of Toronto
- a non-resident owner or tenant of land in the City of Toronto, or their spouse
- not prohibited from voting under any law
2) What should I take with me to vote?
Your voter information card (delivered in the mail early October) and acceptable pieces of identification, which include the following:
- One piece of ID showing your name, address (where you currently live or own property) and signature or two pieces of ID — the first piece showing your name and signature and the second piece of ID showing your name and address.
- If you do not have acceptable identification you will be asked to swear an oath before being issued a ballot.
- Your voter information card cannot be used as identification.
3) Where do I vote?
If your name is on the voters’ list you will receive a voter information card in the mail in early October. This card will tell you where you vote during the two weekend days of advance voting and on election day.
If you do not receive a voter information card, call 416-338-1111 for more information.
4) When can I vote?
Election Day is Monday, Oct. 25, 2010 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Weekday Advance Voting is from Tuesday, Oct. 5 to Friday, Oct. 8, 2010 between 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Tuesday, Oct. 12 to Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2010 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. On these eight advance voting days, you may vote at any of the following locations no matter where you live in the City:
- East York Civic Centre, 850 Coxwell Ave.
- Etobicoke Civic Centre, 399 The West Mall
- North York Civic Centre, 5100 Yonge St.
- Scarborough Civic Centre, 150 Borough Dr.
- Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen St. W.
- York Civic Centre, 2700 Eglinton Ave. W.
Weekend Advance Voting is on Saturday, Oct. 16 and Sunday, Oct. 17, 2010 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Locations to be announced in September 2010.
5) How do I vote?
- Give your identification to a ballot officer who will cross your name off the voters’ list and give you a ballot and a secrecy folder.
- Acceptable identification (See question 2).
- Go behind a voting screen.
- Mark your ballot by connecting the head and tail of the arrow pointing to the candidate of your choice – once for mayor, once for councillor and once for school board trustee
- Place your marked ballot in the secrecy folder
- Go to the tabulator officer at the vote counting equipment who will insert your ballot into the tabulator
- Your vote is then recorded and tallied
- All numbers are stored in the machine until the voting location closes
Source: City of Toronto
For more information on the City of Toronto, visit: http://www.toronto.ca/
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