Your 2022 Municipal Election questions answered

July 18, 2022 10:00 a.m.
​Everything you need to know to vote for or run as a candidate this fall

With the 2022 Municipal Election coming up in October, the City of Vaughan is committed to providing all the information you need to participate in the democratic process.

Here are the answers to your Municipal Election questions –  

Why are there elections?
Canada is a democratic country. This means you can have a say in how the country is run by voting in federal, provincial and municipal elections. Municipalities, including Vaughan, hold elections every four years.

What is Vaughan’s local government structure?
Vaughan is within a two-tier municipal system. There are two levels of local government providing services to our community – York Region as the upper-tier level of government, and the lower-tier governments are the cities and towns within the Region, including Vaughan. The cities are responsible for many programs, services and infrastructure you rely on each day.

York Region provides:

  • Family and children services
  • Paramedic services
  • Police services
  • Public health
  • Public transit (YRT/Viva)
  • Regional roads
  • And much more
The City of Vaughan provides:

  • Building permits
  • By-law and enforcement
  • Fire and rescue services
  • Parks, forestry and horticulture maintenance
  • Recreation and fitness services and centres
  • Snow removal and salting
  • Waste collection
  • And much more
Who are we voting for in this election?
Vaughan Council is currently made up of nine members – one Mayor, three Local and Regional Councillors, and five Local Councillors. The Mayor is elected as the head of Council and Local and Regional Councillors are elected to represent Vaughan at local and regional levels. Local Councillors are elected to represent their wards on Vaughan Council. School Board Trustees are elected to act as their community’s advocate for public education. In the 2022 Municipal Election, Vaughan will add a fourth Local and Regional Councillor.

How can I run as a candidate in the upcoming election?
If you are interested in running as a candidate in the 2022 Municipal Election, there is still time to file your nomination form before the deadline on Friday, Aug. 19 at 2 p.m. Nominations for office on Vaughan Council or a School Board may be filed with the Office of the City Clerk by appointment only, in-person at Vaughan City Hall, 2141 Major Mackenzie Dr.

Appointments are one-hour long during regular business hours – 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, until Thursday, Aug. 18. Appointments are not required for nominations on Nomination Day on Friday, Aug. 19, when applicants will be accepted on a drop-in basis between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.

To file a nomination, you must ensure all necessary forms are filled out and brought to the filing appointment. Forms can be found online at vaughan.ca/elections. You must bring proper identification to the filing appointment, including photo ID and proof of a Vaughan address. The cost to file a nomination is $100 for Councillor or School Board Trustee and $200 for Mayor.

All City facilities are cashless. However, payments in cash (exact amounts encouraged) will be accepted at Vaughan City Hall as part of the candidate nomination process.

Original signatures are required for all forms filed with Election Services. Agents who file on behalf of a candidate must provide all of the above and their identification.

Am I eligible to vote in the 2022 Municipal Election?
To be eligible to vote in the 2022 Municipal Election, you must be:

  • a Canadian citizen.
  • over the age of 18.
  • either a resident of the city of Vaughan, or an owner or tenant of property within the city, or the spouse of an owner or tenant of property in Vaughan.
  • not prohibited from voting under Section 17, subsection (3) of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, or otherwise by law.
For more information regarding the Voter’s List, contact the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) from Monday to Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.:

  • Toll free at 1-866-296-6722
  • TTY at 1-877-889-6722
How can I make sure I am able to vote?
You must be on the Voters’ List to vote in the 2022 Municipal Election. To find out if you are on the list, visit MPAC’s online tool at voterlookup.ca. Ensure your information is accurate and up to date, and, if necessary, make changes and additions for yourself or others in your household.

Once you ensure you are on the list and your information is correct, a unique Personal Identification Number (PIN) will be generated and sent to you by mail in September. This PIN will allow you to vote online during the advance vote, which runs from Thursday, Oct. 6 until Thursday, Oct. 20. In-person voting will take place on Monday, Oct. 24.

What are the key dates related to this election?
Here are the key dates in the 2022 Municipal Election:
  • Thursday, Aug. 11 – Last day to register to vote on MPAC Voter Lookup
  • Friday, Aug. 19 – Last day to submit a candidate nomination
  • Thursday, Oct. 6 – Advance Vote period begins
  • Thursday, Oct. 20 – Advance Vote period ends
  • Monday, Oct. 24 – Voting Day (in-person)

Learn more about the 2022 Municipal Election at vaughan.ca/elections.

For updates and news as they happen, subscribe to Vaughan News and follow the official corporate channels on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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