Mayor Ford warned after visiting polling stations
Posted October 19, 2014 11:04 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Mayor Rob Ford has been officially reminded about election rules pertaining to visiting and “spending considerable” amounts of time at advance polling stations this week, after being spotted at polls in Ward 7 and 8.
A letter, dated Saturday, was sent to Ford from the city clerk’s office, stating a clarification of the rules in the Municipal Elections Act.
The letter states that candidates are allowed to be in polling stations on voting days, but they can’t be campaigning, influencing voters or distributing campaign-related materials.
“Section 48(1) of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 (MEA) prohibits anyone in a voting place from attempting to directly or indirectly influence how a person votes. It also states that the voting place includes any place in the immediate vicinity of the voting place designated by the Clerk,” the letter states.
“If you are attending a voting place as a candidate in ward 2, you must also comply with the rules in the MEA and as attached.”
According to a report in Toronto Star, Ford was also asked to leave a voting station in Ward 17 on Saturday after posing for pictures and speaking with voters. There has been no word if the mayor, who is running for city councillor in Ward 2, will face charges for the third offence.
Ford has defended himself by saying he is driving seniors to polling stations.
Advance polls closed at 7 p.m. Sunday.
Read the letter below or click here for a mobile-friendly version.
City clerk’s letter to Mayor Rob Ford
