Becoming a Candidate 2018 Municipal Election Updated August 23, - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Becoming a Candidate 2018 Municipal Election Updated August 23, - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Becoming a Candidate 2018 Municipal Election Updated August 23, 2018 toronto.ca/elections Presentation Outline City Clerks responsibilities and guiding principles New ward structure and maps Key dates Filing a

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Becoming a Candidate

2018 Municipal Election

Updated August 23, 2018 toronto.ca/elections

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  • City Clerk’s responsibilities and guiding principles
  • New ward structure and maps
  • Key dates
  • Filing a nomination
  • Changing wards or office
  • Contributions and campaign expenses
  • Finances and record keeping
  • MyCampaign and EFFS
  • Contribution Rebate Program
  • Voters’ list
  • Election signs
  • Canvassing and scrutineers

Presentation Outline

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City Clerk’s Responsibilities

  • Conduct the election in accordance with the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 and all
  • ther relevant legislation
  • Establish forms, policies and procedures
  • Set voting places
  • Make the election accessible
  • Administer the City’s Contribution Rebate Program
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Guiding Principles

  • Voters and candidates shall be treated fairly and consistently
  • Secrecy and confidentiality of the voting places is paramount
  • Election shall be fair and must not favour one candidate over another
  • Election shall be accessible to voters
  • Integrity of the process shall be maintained throughout the election
  • Proper majority vote decides the elections, which is achieved by ensuring that valid

votes be counted and invalid votes be rejected

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New Ward Structure

  • The City Clerk administers the election for 65 offices
  • Mayor
  • 25 Councillors
  • 39 School Board Trustees (across 4 school boards)
  • The Better Local Government Act, 2018 passed on August 14, 2018 and reduces the

number of Toronto wards from 47 to 25 for the October 22 election

  • The new 25 ward boundaries align with current federal and provincial electoral ridings
  • Each school board has realigned their wards to fit into this new 25 ward structure
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25 Ward Structure

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City Wards

  • Electors can look up their ward (and who their local

candidates are) by using MyVote

  • www.toronto.ca/elections/myvote
  • An interactive ward map is available online:
  • Can select layers for 25, 44, and 47 ward models
  • http://map.toronto.ca/maps/map.jsp?app=TorontoMaps_v2
  • City ward maps that show voting locations and

boundaries will be available on September 4

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School board wards have new boundaries that align with the 25 ward model.

School Board Wards

  • New maps are on the website
  • Toronto District School Board
  • Toronto Catholic District School Board
  • Conseil scolaire Viamonde
  • Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir
  • Quick reference chart to view

corresponding City wards

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Key Dates

  • Extended nomination period:
  • August 20 – September 14 at 2 p.m.
  • Voters’ list available to

candidates:

  • September 17
  • Voters’ list revision period:
  • September 17 – October 22
  • Election signs can be put up:
  • September 27
  • All signs must be removed by Oct 25
  • Election Day:
  • October 22, 2018
  • End of campaign period:
  • December 31, 2018 (unless extension

filed)

  • Financial statement filing deadline:
  • March 29, 2019 (unless extension

filed)

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Where to File Nominations

  • Nominations are accepted at:
  • City Hall Elections Office

100 Queen St W 1st Floor North

  • Nominations for councillor and school board trustee will be accepted until September 14 at

2:00 p.m.

  • August 20 – September 13: Mon – Fri, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  • September 14: 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
  • Deadline to file for mayor was July 27th
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How to File a Nomination

  • Must be filed in-person at the Election Services Office at City Hall
  • 100 Queen Street West, 1st Floor North
  • To file a nomination, you must provide:
  • Completed Nomination Paper
  • 25 endorsements of nomination (councillor candidates only)
  • Current acceptable identification (showing name, qualifying address, signature)
  • Nomination filing fee of $100
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Endorsements of Nomination

  • All nominations filed for councillor must be accompanied by the endorsement of

at least 25 eligible electors in the City of Toronto

  • The endorsements must be submitted on the form provided by the Province
  • Endorsers do not need to live in the ward in which the candidate intends to run
  • Endorsers can endorse more than one candidate
  • It is the candidate's responsibility to ensure that the endorsements are complete

before submitting them

  • Recommended that candidates supply more than 25 endorsements
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Changing Wards

  • Candidates who filed a nomination for councillor or trustee on or before July 27

and wish to continue as a candidate must file a Change of Ward Notification

  • This form must be filed in-person at the City Hall Elections Office by 2:00 p.m. on

September 14th or the candidate will be deemed to have withdrawn

  • The form must be filed even if the candidate's ward number has not changed
  • An original signature is required on the form and acceptable ID must be shown
  • After filing, candidates will receive a new preliminary expense limit
  • Filing a Change of Ward Notification does not represent a new nomination or

new campaign

  • Any money already raised or spent carries over
  • No additional filing fee is required
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Changing or Withdrawing from Office

  • Candidates for councillor or school board trustee have until 2:00 p.m. on

September 14 to withdraw their nomination and remove their name from the ballot

  • Candidates who wish to change office (e.g., councillor to trustee, trustee to

councillor, one school board to another) must withdraw from the office in which they are running and file a new nomination

  • If moving from trustee to councillor, 25 endorsements of nomination must be submitted.
  • Candidates are required to submit a financial statement for each of their campaigns
  • Even if they withdraw from their campaign
  • Even if they do not raise or spend any money on their campaign
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Contributions

  • All candidates who raise or spend money must open a campaign bank account
  • All money raised and spent must be done through this campaign bank account
  • Candidates can accept contributions from individuals who normally reside in Ontario
  • Contributions can include money, goods, or services
  • All contributions must be documented by the candidate
  • The maximum an individual can donate to a councillor or trustee candidate is $1,200
  • Candidates cannot accept contributions from corporations or trade unions
  • Receipts must be issued for every contribution and should include the name,

address, amount and date the contribution was received

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Campaign Expenses

  • Campaign expenses include:
  • Any expense incurred for goods and services in relation to an election
  • The market value of any inventory being used from a previous election
  • The equivalent value of any contribution of goods and services
  • Preliminary spending limits are provided to candidates upon the filing of their

nomination

  • Final spending limits will be provided on September 25; the higher of the two

amounts will be the final spending limit

  • Some campaign expenses do not count towards the spending limit
  • See Financial Statement – Form 4 for examples
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Finances and Record Keeping

  • Candidates must keep records of:
  • Every expense, including the receipts obtained for each expense.
  • The value and type (i.e., money, good or service) of every contribution received
  • Contributor’s name and address
  • Receipts issued for every contribution
  • Candidates must file their financial statement on or before 2:00 p.m. on March

29, 2019.

  • Financial statements must include an auditor’s report if:
  • The candidate is participating in the Contribution Rebate Program (no matter how

much money they raise or spend); OR

  • The candidate’s expenses or contributions exceed $10,000
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Finances and Record Keeping

  • If a candidate has a surplus at the end of their campaign, it must be paid to the

City Clerk.

  • After their campaign ends, if a candidate has a surplus they many refund any

contributions they (or their spouse) made to their own campaign

  • Candidates are not permitted to refund eligible contributions made by anyone
  • ther than themselves or their spouse
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MyCampaign

  • Candidates can access
  • Updated expense limits
  • Updated contribution limits for candidate/spouse
  • Scanned copy of nomination paper
  • Submission of contact info for online display
  • In September, candidates can download:
  • Detailed ward maps and list of voting places (Sept 4)
  • Voters’ list (Sept 17)
  • In October, candidates can access:
  • Sample ballot for their ward
  • Number of scrutineers allowed in each voting place
  • List of people who voted during the advance vote
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Electronic Financial Filing System (EFFS)

  • EFFS makes financial filing much easier for candidates. It allows candidates to:
  • Manage contributions, expenses and fundraising activities
  • Produce receipts for each contribution
  • Link one contributor to multiple contributions
  • Produce a completed financial statement, doing the calculations for them
  • Submit their financial statement electronically
  • Paper financial statements still must be submitted in-person from candidates who:
  • Have a surplus; OR
  • Are participating in the Contribution Rebate program
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Contribution Rebate Program

  • Contributions for municipal election campaigns are not tax deductible
  • City Council instead passed a by-law to allow for a Contribution Rebate Program
  • The Contribution Rebate Program allows contributors to receive a portion of the

contribution back (based on a formula)

  • Only applies to candidates running for mayor or councillor
  • Only applies to individuals who give monetary contributions (does not apply to good or

services received)

  • Total contributions of $25 or less are not eligible for rebate
  • Candidate campaign must be closed before their contributors can receive a rebate
  • Contributor’s rebate is based on all contributions they made to all candidates
  • Maximum amount a contributor can receive back is $1,000
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Contribution Rebate Program – Overview

The Candidate:

  • Issues a Contribution Rebate Receipt/Application form for every

monetary contribution (even if it's not eligible for a rebate)

  • Completes the ‘Contribution Receipt’ section of the form
  • EFFS will generate the receipt for you and populate this section
  • Sends the form to the contributor to complete

The Contributor:

  • Completes the rest of the form and makes a copy for their records
  • Submits the original form to the Elections Office by the deadline

Earliest a contributor can receive a rebate is August 2019

  • January 2020 for extended campaigns
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Contribution Rebate Program – Requirements

  • In order to participate, candidates must submit the following to the City Clerk:
  • Auditor’s Report provided by a licenced auditor
  • Copies of all expense invoices
  • All contributor / contribution information, submitted either:
  • Electronically, using EFFS OR
  • Manually, using the pink copies of the contribution rebate
  • Candidates must file an audited financial statement by the deadline date

(March 29, 2019 by 2:00 p.m.)

  • Does not matter how much was raised or spent on their campaign
  • Contributions must comply with the Municipal Elections Act
  • Cannot exceed spending limit
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Voters’ List – Getting on the List

Until September 17th:

  • www.voterlookup.ca (through MPAC)

From September 17th to election day:

  • Electors can check if they are on the voters’ list

through the City’s MyVote online registration tool (www.toronto.ca/elections/myvote)

  • Electors can use the registration tool to add

themselves to the voters’ list or correct their info up until October 14th at 11:59pm

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Voters’ List – Getting Your Copy

  • Each candidate gets a free electronic copy of the voters’ list for their ward
  • Voters’ list is obtained through MyCampaign as a downloadable .csv file
  • Candidates must request their copy through MyCampaign
  • There are 2 voters’ lists:
  • Preliminary list of electors + interim list of changes (combined, available Sept 17)
  • List of who voted during advance vote (available daily Oct 7 - 15)
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Election Signs

  • Election signs rules are prescribed in two places:
  • Municipal Elections Act, 1996
  • Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 693 (Elections Sign By-Law)
  • No election signs can be publicly displayed before September 27, 2018
  • Campaign office signs also cannot go up before September 27, with the exception of a

small sign that says “Office of Jane Doe”

  • Election signs must be removed 72 hours after the completion of voting day
  • Sign deposit is no longer required
  • Municipal Licensing and Standards (MLS) are responsible for sign rules and enforcement
  • For all sign questions/complaints, contact 416-395-0222 or electionsigns@toronto.ca
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Canvassing – Before the Election

  • Can start as soon as you register as a candidate
  • Access to apartments and condos
  • Candidates (and their representatives) are permitted access between 9am-9pm
  • Letter to landlords available in MyCampaign and on the Elections website
  • Cannot canvass on City-owned property
  • Exception: canvassing is permitted in public parks and some City-managed public

squares (campaign events are not permitted)

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Canvassing – On Voting Days

  • Canvassing is allowed during advance vote and on election day
  • Cannot canvass on the property where voting is held
  • Includes parking lot
  • Exception is apartments and condos being used as voting locations:
  • Canvassing is permitted on floors where people live
  • Canvassing is not permitted in common areas
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Scrutineers

  • Observe the voting process
  • Cannot communicate with electors
  • Cannot interfere with the voting process
  • Candidates must complete a “Scrutineer Appointment Notice” for each of their

scrutineers

  • Candidates are allowed one scrutineer for each ballot issuer at a voting place, as

well as for the vote tabulator

  • Scrutineers or candidates will be removed if they are disrupting the voting place
  • r process, at the election official’s discretion
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Candidate Resources

  • MyCampaign
  • www.toronto.ca/elections/mycampaign
  • Toronto Elections website
  • www.toronto.ca/elections
  • Candidates’ Guide
  • www.toronto.ca/elections/candidates (go to Candidates’ Guide section)
  • Update for the 2018 City of Toronto election: www.mah.gov.on.ca/page18845.aspx
  • Key Dates for 2018/19
  • www.toronto.ca/city-government/elections/candidate-information/key-dates-2018-2019
  • Election Legislation
  • Municipal Elections Act, 1996: www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/96m32
  • Bill 5, Better Local Government Act, 2018: www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-1/bill-5
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Questions?

Election Services

  • candidateinfo@toronto.ca
  • 416-395-0025

Municipal Licensing and Standards (election signs)

  • ElectionSigns@toronto.ca
  • 416-395-0222

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (legislation)

  • MSOC.Admin@ontario.ca
  • 416-585-6226 (general inquiry)