Voting 101: How to Make An Informed Decision & Engage in Elections (Blog)
Introduction
If you are a resident of Ontario, a Canadian citizen, and 18+ years old, it’s time for us to head to the polls! That’s right – we are officially in election season. This blog will help outline some crucial information, including a brief overview of Canada’s electoral system (a recap from your civics/history class), some frequently asked questions about voting, red, green and yellow flags in candidates/parties, and tips on making an informed decision.
Canada’s Electoral System
Democracy & Elections
Canada is a representative democracy. That means that citizens elect representatives to make laws and decisions for the city/province/country and its people. Elections are generally held every four years, though elections are sometimes called sooner: this could be to capitalize on a particular issue, to try to increase the number of seats one has (federally or provincially), or because other representatives have called for a vote of no confidence. Elections are a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual or multiple individuals to hold public office.
The candidate who gets the most votes in your electoral district wins. This is what we call the First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) system. The party that wins the most seats usually forms government.
Responsibilities of Elected Officials
All elected officials are entrusted with the responsibility of making decisions that affect the day-to-day lives of everyone living in Canada. Responsibilities of elected officials include:
proposing, debating, and voting on legislation (e.g., bills, laws, etc.)
meeting with constituents (you!) to discuss their concerns
providing guidance about government services
holding regular, democratic elections
Each level of government holds different responsibilities (as illustrated in the chart). It’s crucial to be aware of what responsibilities each level of government has, as this helps to make an informed decision!
Political Spectrum & Parties
You have likely heard of the idea of the political spectrum, where people often refer to themselves as “left-wing”, “right-wing”, or “center”. The spectrum typically refers to two intersecting scales (on the left) with the question: “To what degree should the government intervene or exert control in these two spheres?”
Political parties (which are used at a federal and provincial level) help Canadians understand the views of local candidates and their elected representatives. They do so by presenting voters with a set of priorities the political party will pursue, known as a “platform”. Platforms can indicate what Governments will do when they are in power, for example, what types of laws they will introduce and how they will handle certain issues.
Voting FAQs
Here are some answers to basic questions about voting. All information is also available via the Elections Ontario website.
Am I Registered/Eligible to Vote?
If you are a Canadian citizen who is 18+ years old and a resident of Ontario, you are eligible to vote! You can check if you are registered to vote online.
Where & When Do I Vote?
After an election is called, there are typically four different ways that you can vote. Different people choose different methods of voting depending on personal preference, accessibility, timing, location, or any other reason!
Vote on Election Day (February 27): your Voter Information Card (sent via mail) will tell you where to vote. The polls are open from 9am to 9pm.
Vote in Advance Polls (February 20, 21 & 22): you can vote in advance at designated locations in your electoral district from 10am to 8pm.
Vote at Your Electoral Office (Now till February 26): you can vote up until Election Day at your local Electoral Office. Hours vary but may include weekends.
Vote By Mail (Due Date: February 21): if you are unable to make it to an in-person polling location, you can vote by mail – but you must register!
What Should I Bring?
You must provide ID to receive a ballot. You may use an electronic copy of your ID, which may be printed or displayed on a mobile device. Photo ID is not required. If you choose to show photo ID, your appearance does not need to match the photo. You do not need to provide any information about your sex or gender expression. ID includes most documents issued by the Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario or a municipality in Ontario. Find a list of eligible identification HERE.
What If I Have Accessibility Needs?
Elections Ontario has adopted the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act's (AODA) four core principles as part of their continued commitment to identify, prevent and remove access barriers so that persons with disabilities can fully participate in the electoral process. Elections Ontario offers various accessibility tools to support voters with accessibility needs, including:
Offering a voting at home visit
Mail in ballots
Inspecting polling stations to ensure mobility accessibility
Various assistive technologies and support (interpretation, braille, magnifiers, etc.) More information below.
What If I Have To Work?
All employees who are Canadian citizens and 18 years of age or older are entitled to have three consecutive hours off on Election Day to vote.
Am I Voting for the Party or the Leader?
Neither – you are voting for your Member of Provincial Parliament. The province of Ontario is divided into geographic areas called electoral districts. You don’t vote for the leader or the party – you vote for who you want to be your local representative in your electoral district. You can find your electoral district and candidate list on the Elections Ontario website by entering your postal code.
Red, Yellow & Green Flags in Elections
Candidates and parties (naturally) have a lot to say during elections. Here are some ways to recognize red flags (warning signs), yellow flags (caution signs), and green flags (positive signs) in what candidates and parties say.
Red Flags
They spend the entire time attacking other parties/candidates.
You want to choose a representative based on what they are going to do, not just based on what the others are or are not doing.
If a candidate/party leader spends the entire time attacking other candidates/parties, they aren’t using that time to tell you what they are going to do, what their priorities are, and why you should support them.
They don’t know what they are talking about and/or are sharing false information.
A critical part of being a candidate/representative is to do extensive research, to talk with stakeholders in the community, and make informed decisions.
If your candidate/party is answering “I don’t know” with no indication of a follow up or commitment to learning, that shows a lack of commitment and willful ignorance. Similarly, if they are citing false information, that shows a lack of care for truth and accountability.
They use harmful stereotypes, dogwhistles, and/or misinformation.
If they are using coded language (dogwhistles), they are catering to far-right beliefs and groups while trying not to cause offense.
Examples of common dogwhistles:
“End DEI”, “DEI takes away jobs from qualified people”, “stop woke” (based on false information and targets marginalized communities)
“Save/protect the children/women” (used to target trans and queer people)
“Prioritize our own first” (anti-immigration)
Yellow Flags
They are not responsive, are unengaged, and don’t appear active.
Candidates and parties should be continually seeking to engage with us - it’s literally their job! If you have tried to contact them (text, email, social media, phone, etc.), and found that they are not responsive, this shows you what they may be like as a representative - someone who doesn’t prioritize you.
Take a look at their social media. Are they active? Are they posting? Are they hosting events in the community, knocking on doors, connecting with people? Are they attending candidate debates and forums? If not, ask yourself why.
They are being vague, or not answering the question.
If a candidate/party leader has been asked a question, they might talk rather vaguely (e.g. “I/my party will look into things”, “we support a lot of things”). This is a concern because it shows a lack of commitment or a lack of knowledge on the topic.
Some candidates/parties may try to redirect to another topic they are more comfortable/familiar with, and end up not answering the question. This is a good time to have the question repeated/resent and ask them to respond to the question.
Green Flags
They have previous experience that would support and inform them in their role.
You want a candidate/party who has previous experience working within and supporting your community. Experience can mean many things - personal, volunteer, professional, academic, etc.
Someone who just showed up on the scene but has no previous evidence of political engagement is a concern. You want someone who has been actively engaged in your community and demonstrates commitment to continued engagement and advocacy.
They are a strong communicator who is responsive and accountable.
You want a candidate/party who communicates with you and is accessible via different platforms - email, phone call, social media, in person. You want a candidate/party who is engaged in your community - attends events, participates in candidate debates and forums, and is available to hear your concerns.
You should be able to easily find information about the candidate/party by looking at their website and social media: things like their platform, contact information, and how to get involved.
They have a clear message, platform, and specific ideas.
Your candidate/party should be able to answer the question “what issue matters the most to you” and “why are you running for election”. This shows a clear message, clear priorities, and that your candidate/party has thought about what they would do if [re]elected.
Similarly, if you have ideas and issues of concern, you should feel comfortable enough to bring these up to your candidate/party and trust that they will address these.
Tips on Being an Informed Voter
Find Out Who Your Candidates Are
Remember that we don’t vote [just] for the party or the leader – we vote for our local candidate who will represent us as our Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP). You can search to find a list of candidates based on political party and/or electoral district. Once you know the names of your candidates, you can simply look for their websites/social media to learn more about each of them, their experience, and priorities.
Find Out Where You Are on the Political Spectrum
The following two quizzes ask your view on various policies (e.g. environment, economy, social issues, healthcare, education) and provide a percentage for each party so you can see where you most align.
Attend Election Events, Debates, and Forums
Many community organizations often offer meet and greet events with candidates, panel discussions, and/or debate nights. This is a great chance to hear directly from candidates about their views and priorities. You can also view the Ontario leaders’ debate (February 17) on the CTV News YouTube channel. This helps highlight the different party leaders, their platforms, and their focus.
Ask Questions of Your Candidates
It’s super important to ask your candidate questions! Whether it’s when they (or a representative) come to the door, or through social media or email. Their response (or lack thereof) is a critical way to make an informed voting decision. Here are examples of questions:
Why are you running?
What makes you different from other candidates/the incumbent?
What would your top 3 priorities be if elected?
Pick 1-2 issues that matter to you (e.g. education, healthcare, housing, economy, environment) and ask them what their plan is to address it.
Research Their Party Platform & Priorities
Every party should have a platform – i.e. their commitments if they were to be [re]elected and what their top priorities are. Search their website and social media to see what they are saying!
Voting Strategically
Under the current (first-past-the-post) electoral system, we run the risk of a “split vote” (where left/progressive parties split the vote from the right). One way of addressing and countering this is referred to as “strategic voting”, which is when you don’t vote for your top choice but rather the one who has the best chance of defeating the right (in the case of this Ontario provincial election, the Progressive Conservatives). The following tools help show how to vote strategically in your electoral district:
Conclusion
Voting is an essential part of our lives. Engaging in elections by making an informed decision, encouraging others to vote, and continually doing political advocacy is critical to making the change that we want to see. Here are four reasons why voting is so crucial:
Elections Have Consequences. Every vote matters. You have the power to make key decisions on the quality of life you want for yourself, your family, and your community. Voting is your chance to stand up for the issues you care about.
It’s Your Right. Not voting is giving up your voice – and not everyone always has had the right to vote. Every vote cast is a testament to the struggles of those who came before us, a tribute to their sacrifices, and a pledge to uphold the principles of democracy.
It’s Your Money. Voting is your chance to choose how your tax dollars are spent, such as additional funding for health care and social services.
The Personal is Political. Social issues affect everyone in one way or another. Voting provides us a way with which we can advocate for the issues that matter.
Helpful Videos to Learn More
The following are videos produced by CIVIX that discuss various topics relating to politics, voting, and elections.
