Do 102 names fit on a ballot?! Everything you need to know about voting in the mayoral election

The Toronto mayoral election ballot looks more like a page from a phone book.

But just the one page — all 102 candidate names fit on the standard 8.5 by 17 inch paper — with the same last name font size.

Max Hartshorn, one of the 34,000 people to so far request a mail-in ballot, wryly observed: “none of you are ready for this Toronto mayor ballot.”

(If you want a mail-in ballot, the deadline to apply is Friday at 4:30 p.m.)

Hartshorn, who is a team lead at Global News, said he’s glad to have the time to peruse the alphabetized names closely, seeing it at the ballot box on election would be overwhelming. A sample ballot is available to study beforehand.

Among the quirks on the ballot: a Sanders just above high-profile candidate former police chief Mark Saunders, a Choy just after front-runner in the polls Olivia Chow and two Singhs.

Beyond the ballot, Toronto Elections staff are busy dusting off the just-used vote counting machines and checking them for accuracy. The ward polling stations are almost the same as they were in the last municipal election in 2022, helping to cut the cost of the byelection from the normal election cost by about $1 million, to about $13-million.

The byelection was triggered after former mayor John Tory, who held the position since 2014, announced he would step down following a Star investigation that revealed he had an affair with a junior member of his city hall staff while he was her boss.

Here’s what you need to know for the upcoming byelection:

When is election day?

June 26 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. You will have to vote in the ward where you live on election day.

Who are the candidates?

A whopping 102 people are running. The Star has ongoing coverage of the candidates, their platforms and the polling.

Can I vote in advance?

Yes. Advance polls will open June 8 and remain open until June 13, with voting hours between 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. During advance voting days, you can vote at any voting place in the city.

Who can vote in the byelection?

To vote in the byelection, a person must be a Canadian citizen, at least 18 years old, a resident of Toronto and not prohibited from voting under any law. Someone who doesn’t live in the city but they or their spouse owns or rents property in the city is also eligible to vote.

For students who have a home where they live when not in school, and they plan on retuning there, they can vote in both their “home” municipality and the municipality where they currently live while going to school.

Where can I find my nearest polling station?

On June 1, eligible voters will be able to use MyVote to find all advance voting locations and polling stations on election day. Again, people voting on election day must vote in the ward where they live.

What do I need to vote?

You’ll need to show an election official acceptable ID to receive your ballot, but it doesn’t have to be photo ID — you just need one piece of ID showing your name and address within the city. Valid proof includes a document from the federal or provincial government, tax documents, drivers licence or a photo ID card. You can also bring a credit card, bank statement or loan agreement. A utility bill, cheque stub or statement of direct deposit from Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program are also acceptable.

Though it’s not mandatory in order to cast your ballot, you can also bring a voter information card that will confirm with officials you are on the voters’ list, which will speed up the process. The voter information card does not count as a form of ID, so make sure to bring ID along with your card.

Voter information cards will be mailed out to people who are on the voters’ list as of May 14.

They can also be downloaded and printed starting June 1 using MyVote.

How do I check if I am on the voters list?

To check if you are on the voters list and review your information, check MyVote on the city’s website which will be available starting May 1.

From May 1 until May 26, you can also call 311 or email VoterRegistration@toronto.ca to check, add or update your information.

After May 26, you can add yourself to the voters’ list when you go to vote in person during advance vote or on election day.

How do I vote by mail?

Between May 1 and May 26 at 4:30 p.m., residents can apply for mail-in voting on Toronto.ca or by mail. Completed mail-in voting packages sent by Canada Post must be received by Toronto Elections by June 15 at noon to be counted. You can also drop completed mail-in packages at yellow drop-boxes in each ward up to June 15.

What are the issues facing the city ahead of the byelection?

Whoever wins the election and becomes mayor will face a number of pressing problems in the city — from housing affordability and homelessness, to violence on the TTC, and the city’s finances that have been ravaged by the pandemic.

Kelly Skjerven is a Toronto-based general assignment reporter for the Star. Reach her via email: kskjerven@thestar.ca

Alyshah Hasham is a Toronto-based reporter covering city hall and municipal politics for the Star. Reach her via email: ahasham@thestar.ca or follow her on Twitter: @alysanmati