On Oct. 27, eligible students will be able to vote at polling stations across the city. (Deanne Bender/Ryersonian)
On Monday Oct. 27, Toronto residents will head to the polls to elect a new municipal government. If you’re a Ryerson student aged 18 or older, you live in Toronto and you’re a Canadian citizen, you are eligible to vote in the election.
All students are allowed to vote in the municipality where they live while in school, as well as in their “home” municipality — the city where their permanent address is located.
As election day approaches, The Ryersonian has compiled a guide for first-time student voters with all the information you need to exercise your democratic right.
How to vote:
In order to vote, you must be on the voters list. If you are not already a registered voter, you can register on the spot at the polling station on election day.
To register, all you need is a piece of identification with your name and address. You do not need photo ID.
If you’re already registered, bring your ID as well as the voter card your received in the mail.
Items used for identification must show your name and address. Accepted items include an Ontario driver’s licence, Ontario health card, lease agreement, credit card bill, telephone bill or a transcript from a post-secondary school. A Canadian passport is not an acceptable piece of ID.
When and where to vote:
Polls are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 27.
The polling station for students living in Pitman Hall and O’Keefe House is located on the first floor of Pitman Hall. Students living in the International Living/Learning Centre will find their polling station on the first floor lobby at 145 Mutual St.
For other poll locations, check: toronto.ca/elections/myvote
This story was first published in The Ryersonian, a weekly newspaper produced by the Ryerson School of Journalism, on Oct. 22, 2014.
Michelle was a features editor at The Ryersonian. She completed her Masters of Journalism at Ryerson University in 2015.
Contact her at michelle.lepage@ryerson.ca
