From transit to health care to urban planning, why your vote matters
We have the chance to make our voices heard in this coming municipal election and to make a difference in policies regarding issues and services in our city that impact our daily lives. Photo credit Edmond Dante via Pexels
Voting is super easy. That’s what John Beebe wants students to know so they can feel at ease about flexing their civic muscle.
“You don’t have to be registered, you just have to have something that proves your current address, like a piece of mail you got from the bank,” says Beebe, the senior advisor of the TMU Democratic Engagement Exchange. “It’s that easy.”
Toronto’s 2022 municipal election takes place on Oct. 24 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Advance voting days are Oct. 7 to 14.
You can use MyVote (external link) to confirm your voter information, update your voter information, add your name to the voters' list and download your voter information card to your mobile device.
Where to vote: Enter your address (street number and street name) at My Vote website (external link) , then click on the top tab ‘My Voting Places’ to find your polling station. For more information visit #voteTO: How and Where to Vote in Monday’s Municipal Election.
Voice your choice
The hardest part, by far says Beebe, is deciding who to vote for, and that’s true not just of students but for all voters.
Beebe suggests students check out online Toronto municipal election resource knowyourvote.to (external link) . Offered by the Toronto Public Library it gathers candidate stances on a host of issues.
Another great resource is The Local (external link) , which features a Toronto Candidate Tracker (external link) tool that outlines where candidates stand on major issues.
Do some research and talk to your peers, family members and colleagues about the election to help get a sense of the candidates and their platforms.
“It doesn't have to be complicated. Some students may see this as a critical decision that they need to be super informed about, which can deter them from voting if they feel they aren’t an expert,” says Beebe. “Look for platforms on the issues that are important to you.”
Beebe also encourages students to check out candidate debates or all candidate forums in your community, many of which are online and easy to attend. “Or go in person, which is my favourite way to do it, and get a chance to talk to other engaged citizens and the candidates themselves.”
Students could also talk to family and friends, and other trusted sources who may follow the elections more closely and be more familiar with the candidates.
“These are local elections, the candidates want your vote, they will be happy to talk to you. And if they're not, that's a bad sign.”
The issues that matter to you
“Whatever the issue you care about, the municipal elections are impacting you,” says Beebe.
Students, like the general public, have many issues they care about. If your top issue is transit challenges, Beebe explains that municipalities take the lead on that. If your issue is climate change, “municipalities are doing some of the most innovative work of any level of government on that issue.” If your issue is job prospects, he says that municipalities are critical in supporting the creation of meaningful work, and play a major role in regulating and passing policies related to issues like the gig economy.
From health care and urban planning, to poverty and policing, municipalities provide the various services that impact our lives on a daily basis.
In a (PDF file) recent study on Toronto municipal election voter trends (external link) , Politics and Public Administration Professor Emeritus Myer Siemiatycki and advocate Sean Marshall stated that, “If all eligible voters are not equally drawn to the ballot box, there could be consequences for which communities and issues come to be regarded as priorities by elected officials”.
Voting in different cities: Each municipality sets its own rules about voting. Students should visit their city's website for ways to vote, including internet voting options.
Did you know: For municipal elections, students are in a unique position because they can vote twice! If you are living in residence or off-campus, and also have a primary address in another city, you are eligible to vote in both municipal elections.
Active citizenship
Toronto municipal elections have generally seen low voter turnout with 54.7 per cent of eligible voters casting ballots in 2014, and only 40.9 per cent of electors voting in 2018 (external link) .
The Democratic Engagement Exchange which runs out of TMU’s Faculty of Arts, is working to reduce barriers for participation in our democracy. To get involved with the initiatives of The Engagement Exchange, feel free to reach out to John Beebe and the team at the.exchange@torontomu.ca.
Through the municipal elections you have a chance to vote for representation on the issues and services that matter to you. Photo credit Edmond Dante via Pexels
Make a commitment to vote this month with this checklist (external link) . (external link)
To get more involved, you can also attend Making Municipal Elections Meaningful and FUN (external link) part of the Democracy Dialogue virtual series hosted by The Democratic Engagement Exchange on Wed, October 12, 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., for an engaging and fun conversation about increasing participation in local elections.
The time is now
Voting gives you the power to help make key decisions that will impact your quality of life. Broader participation in democracy can make a difference on issues like systemic inequities and increase confidence in our leaders and government institutions, and combat feelings of apathy towards our political systems.
Low voter turnouts means that important local issues are determined by a limited group of voters that may not reflect the needs and priorities of underrepresented and less affluent groups, including students. See you at the polls!
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