When, where, how to vote as Toronto heads to polls to elect next mayor

Toronto voters are electing the next mayor of Canada’s most populous city, capping a hotly contested byelection campaign to replace scandal-departed John Tory.

It’s the second mayoral election for the city since October, after Tory admitted to having an affair with a staffer and resigned just a few months into his third term.

A record 102 candidates lined up to replace him, with roughly a half-dozen names rising to the top of the field over the course of the 12-week campaign.

When to vote

Polls are open on Monday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 1,445 voting locations across the city.

Workplaces are required to give employees three hours to vote on election day.

If you are already in line when polls close in the evening you will still be able to cast a ballot.

Where to vote

Most residents will have received a Voter Information Card (VIC) in the mail with details on where their assigned polling station is located.

Anyone who hasn’t received a voter card can check the city’s website to see if they are on the voters’ list and review their information here. Residents are still able to add their names to the list on election day.

Residents can also find their assigned voting location here.

Who is eligible to vote

People must meet the following requirement to vote in the upcoming mayoral byelection

• must be a Canadian citizen
• must be at least 18 years old
• must be a Toronto resident or must own or rent property in the city (or your spouse owns or rents property in the city)
• Those without a permanent address can find info on how to vote at shelters or by calling 3-1-1.
• Students whose permanent residents are in another municipality but are currently living in Toronto are eligible to vote in both municipalities.
• Students who are Toronto residents but are attending school in another municipality are similarly eligible to vote in both municipalities.

What to bring with you

Voters will need to show Identification that has their name and their Toronto address, such as a driver’s license, a personalized cheque or bank statement, or a utility bill. A photo ID is not necessary.

A list of accepted forms of ID that display a resident’s name and address can be found here.

A Voter card is not necessary to vote, but the city says it may shorten the time spent at the voting location. VICs have been mailed out in advance to residents on the voter list.

People can check and see if they are on the voters’ list and review their information here.

Related:

• Mayoral candidates make their final pitch to Torontonians ahead of Monday’s vote

• What are the top Toronto Mayoral candidates promising if elected?

Advance polls held earlier this month saw 129,745 people cast a ballot, an increase of 14,000 over early voting in the October election.

That election saw a record low 30 per cent voter turnout in a race where Tory cruised to a third term against a field absent of any contenders with high-profile name recognition and experience in elected office.

With a number of established candidates contesting this election, city hall watchers have speculated the winner could be elected with the lowest share of the popular vote since amalgamation. Tory’s 2014 win stands at the low watermark, when he captured 40 per cent of the vote.

CityNews will have up to the minute election coverage starting at 8 p.m. on Citytv, CityNews 24/7, CityNews 680 and Citynews.ca.

With files from the Canadian Press