Cast your vote … fairly and legally
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Everything you need to know about online voting
Voting online in the Municipal Election is fast, convenient and
secure. And it comes with the responsibility to cast your vote in a legal and
fair manner.
Here are answers to questions
you may have about the online voting process:
How do I
know if I am eligible to vote in the 2022 Municipal Election?
To be eligible to vote,
you must be:
- a Canadian citizen.
- at least 18 years of age or older.
- a resident of the city of Vaughan, or an owner or tenant of property in the city of Vaughan, or the spouse of an owner or tenant of property in the city of Vaughan.
- not prohibited from voting under any law.
It is considered
voter fraud if you:
- vote if you are not eligible to do so.
- vote more than one time.
- vote at a different voting location than the one you were assigned.
- cast a vote yourself after you have appointed someone else to vote on your behalf as a proxy.
- vote on behalf of someone if the person who appointed you their proxy cancelled the appointment, became ineligible to vote or died.
- give a ballot to someone if you are not authorized to do so.
- switch the ballot you were given with a different piece of paper to be placed in the ballot box.
- remove a ballot from the designated voting location.
- handle a ballot box or ballots if you are not authorized to do so.
- bribe someone (using money, valuables or offers of office or employment) to vote a certain way or to not vote at all or give someone else money so they can bribe someone.
- accept a bribe to vote a certain way or to not vote at all.
- bribe a person to withdraw from being a candidate.
I
received a Voter Information Letter for someone who does not live at this
address. What do I do with it?
You must only open a Voter Information Letter that
is addressed to you. It is illegal to take, open or tamper with mail
that is addressed to another person.
If you receive a Voter Information Letter for
someone who does not live at your address, do not open or forward it. Instead,
mark the envelope ‘Return to Sender – Not at this Address’ and return it to
Election Services, City of Vaughan at 2141 Major Mackenzie Drive, Vaughan ON
L6A 1T1.
If you have recently
moved, you can contact the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) to
provide them with your correct home address. (MPAC: Toll-free: 1-866-296-6722,
TTY: 1-877-889-6722, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST)
I received my Voter Information Letter in the mail but don’t
have time to vote online during the Advance Vote. Can I ask someone to vote
online on my behalf?
No. Only you may vote online during the Advance Vote with your
PIN. Never share your Voter Information Letter or Voting PIN with anyone,
including family, friends, colleagues, candidates or City staff. Candidates,
candidates’ volunteers and scrutineers are also not permitted to assist a voter
in using the online voting platform.
I lost/misplaced my
Voter Information Letter. Where can I report the loss?
If you lost your Voter Information Letter, you
should attend a Voter Assistance Centre immediately to get a new online Voting
PIN (the old one will be deactivated).
Someone I know who was on the Voters’ List is now deceased. Can
I vote on their behalf?
No. If you reasonably believe another
individual is deceased and no longer eligible to vote in the 2022 Municipal
Election, you may submit the Removal of Deceased
Person's Name from the Voters' List
form by Monday, Oct. 24, 2022 to request to have the person removed from the
Voters' List.
Are
people allowed go door to door to collect votes?
Candidates and candidates’ volunteers are not permitted to assist
a voter to vote in person or use the online voting platform. The City of Vaughan never sends
representatives door to door or anywhere else to collect votes.
How do I report suspected fraud?
If you suspect voter fraud, you are
encouraged to contact York Regional Police’s non-emergency line at 1-866-876-5423.
What are the consequences of
committing voter fraud?
According to the Municipal Election Act, 1996, if a
person is convicted of committing an offence related to voter fraud, they may
be subject to the following penalties:
- a fine of up to $25,000
- ineligibility to vote or run in the next election
- up to six months in prison
If a corporation or trade union is
convicted of committing an offence, they may be subject to a fine up to
$50,000. The court would determine these penalties.
What
is the City doing to ensure the 2022 Municipal Election is secure?
The City is
responsible for ensuring every municipal election is safe and secure. The
internet voting system used by the City can flag irregular voting occurrences
for further investigation. The City will pursue individuals who commit voter
fraud.
Where can I find more information on the 2022 Municipal Election in
Vaughan?
Continue to visit vaughan.ca/elections for the most up to
date information, resources and a complete list of candidates running.
For updates and news as
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