FAQ

What is ArtsVote?

ArtsVote Toronto 2010 is a coalition of volunteers, working to elect candidates who support the arts in the October 25, 2010 municipal election. ArtsVote has two goals: to communicate the value of the arts to candidates for Councillor and Mayor, and to mobilize artists and arts workers to vote for candidates who are committed to building a vibrant and cultured community.

What does ArtsVote do for the arts community?
ArtsVote raises the profiles of the arts in the municipal election by creating and distributing the ArtsVote Survey to all challenger and incumbent candidates, determining a grade for each candidate based on their response to the Survey and their voting record (if known), and communicating those grades in the ArtsVote Report Card to the arts community. ArtsVote also organizes events such as the Mayoral Arts Debate, and in the weeks leading up to the election communicates directly to artists the importance of their vote.

What does ArtsVote want the arts community to do?ArtsVote wants artists, arts workers and arts supporters to act as advocates for ArtsVote and help reach a wide base of community members, to inform themselves about their Ward race and the Mayoral race through the Report Card (online in September),  and to vote.

Who is on the Artsvote Committee? The Artsvote Committe is comprised of artists and cultural workers in Toronto, each representing a different discipline.

What am I voting for in this election?

The City government is involved in many aspects of our daily lives – from fixing roads, providing water and electricity, collecting garbage, caring for children and the elderly, running public transit, supporting the arts, protecting the public and ensuring an economically, environmentally and socially healthy future for all Torontonians.

Voting is a fundamental part of democracy. When you vote, you are choosing how you want to be governed. You are selecting representatives – Toronto’s Mayor and Councillors – who will make the laws and policies for the City.

Toronto City Council is the main governing and legislative body of the City of Toronto. City Council is made up of the Mayor and 44 Councillors. The Mayor is the only member of Council who is elected by voters from across the city. Each councillor represents one of Toronto’s 44 municipal wards (a geographic area of the city).

Unlike other orders of government, there are no political parties at the municipal level. Elections happen once every four years. The next municipal election will take place on October 25, 2010.

Who can vote in a municipal election?

You can vote in Toronto’s municipal election if you are:

  • a Canadian citizen, and
  • at least 18 years old.

You must also either:

  • live in Toronto, or
  • own or rent property in the City, or
  • be married to someone who owns or rents property in the City.

In addition, you must not be prohibited from voting under any law. For example, people convicted of crimes who are in jail are not eligible to vote in Toronto’s municipal election.

If you live in Toronto and own or rent more than one property in the City, you must vote where you live. You may only vote once in Toronto’s municipal election regardless of how many properties you own or rent within the City.

How do I know when and where to vote?

A few weeks before voting begins, the City sends a voter information card to every person who is on the voters’ list. This card tells you where you can vote in the advance vote and on election day.

The voters’ list is the list of names and addresses of eligible electors used at the voting location. Individuals who are on the voters’ list will receive a voter information card letting them know when and where they are able to vote.

The City uses the voters’ list to provide voters with election information and to manage voting locations. The voters’ list is created by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) who provides a copy to the City.

What should I bring with me when I go to vote?

There are new identification (ID) requirements that an eligible elector needs to be aware about in order to receive a ballot and being able to vote in the 2010 Toronto Election. These requirements will also affect those electors that may wish to have someone vote on their behalf as a proxy, and also to candidates filing nomination papers.

A person must now present identification that shows their name, signature and Toronto address upon arriving at their voting place. You can present the required identification in two ways:

  • The first is having a single piece of ID showing your name, signature and Toronto address (where you currently live or own property).
  • The second way is having two pieces of ID; one showing your name and signature and the second showing your name and Toronto address.




How do I vote?

There are three parts to the Toronto election ballot. Each ballot will list all of the candidates running for Mayor and the candidates running for Council and school board trustee in your ward. If you are a non-resident owner or tenant of land assessed as commercial or industrial you cannot vote for a school board trustee.

To vote simply:

  • Give your identification to an election official who will cross your name off the voters’ list and give you a ballot and a secrecy folder
  • Go behind a voting screen
  • Mark your ballot by connecting the head and tail of the arrow next to the candidate of your choice
  • Place your marked ballot in the secrecy folder
  • Go to the official at the vote counting equipment who will insert your ballot into the tabulator
  • Your vote is then recorded and counted
  • All numbers are stored in the machine until the voting location closes

If you make a mistake or change your mind about who you want to vote for simply take the ballot to the election official who will cancel your ballot and issue another one to you. If you have any questions on how to properly mark the ballot, any of the election staff will be happy to explain it to you.

If you know that you won’t be able to vote on election day, you can either go to one of the City’s advance vote locations or you can appoint another eligible elector to act as your proxy. To appoint a proxy, you and the person who will be voting on your behalf, need to complete a form and have it certified by the City Clerk’s Office.

Who can be a candidate in the municipal election?

Anyone who is an eligible elector may put their name forward to be a candidate in the municipal election (provided they are not disqualified by any legislation from holding municipal office). To run in a municipal election, candidates don’t need to belong to a political party. The City Clerk has a full list of criteria and qualifications.

In 2006, there were 456 candidates in Toronto’s municipal election. 38 people ran for Mayor and there were 275 candidates for Council. If you’re interested in being a candidate, please contact the City Clerk’s Office for more information.

How do candidates raise money to run their campaigns?

Once a candidate has filed their nomination papers with the City, they are able to start fundraising and spending money on their election campaign.

Corporations and trade unions are no longer allowed to donate to candidates for city council in Toronto.  They can still donate to school board trustee candidates, but city council candidates can only accept contributions from individuals.

There are limits on the amounts a candidate can spend on expenses during the campaign period. These limits are based on the number of electors in the ward in which the candidate is seeking office. The City Clerk informs candidates about their spending limits.

Who Is Running?

For an updated list of who is running and who is not, visit the City of Toronto website here: