Item - 2025.EX22.5

Tracking Status

City Council adopted this item on April 23 and 24, 2025 without amendments.
This item was considered by the Executive Committee on April 14, 2025 and adopted without amendment. It will be considered by City Council on April 23 and 24, 2025.

EX22.5 - Amendments to Municipal Code Chapter 190, Polling and Notification including Lowering the Polling Age

Decision Type:: ACTION

Status:: Adopted

Wards:: All

City Council Decision

City Council on April 23 and 24, 2025, adopted the following:

1. City Council amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 190, Polling and Notification, as follows and as outlined in Attachment 1 to the report (March 31, 2025) from the City Clerk:

a. lower the minimum age to vote in a poll from 18 years of age to 16 years of age, with the exception of polls required under Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 19, Business Improvement Areas;

b. replace the requirement in Subsection 190-4.C. for an affidavit to be added to the polling list with "proof of ownership or tenancy";

c. add "Spoiled Ballot" to the list of definitions in Subsection 190-1, as drafted in Attachment 1 to the report (March 31, 2025) from the City Clerk;

d. add "Family Day" and "Remembrance Day" to the list of observances in the definition of "Holiday";

e. add Community Council approved policies to the Application of Polling Procedure in Subsection 190-2;

f. remove the requirement in Subsections 190-5.A; 190-6; and 190-8, for the Clerk to "mail" ballots, and instead indicate that ballots will be "provided";

g. amend Subsection 190-7, Accepted Ballots in accordance with the edits in Attachment 1 to the report (March 31, 2025) from the City Clerk;

h. add a new subsection to Subsection 190-8, Minimum response rate and majority regarding spoiled ballots, as drafted in Attachment 1 to the report (March 31, 2025) from the City Clerk; and

i. add "revisions to the polling list" to the confidentiality provisions in Subsection 190-10.

2. City Council direct that the amendments to Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 190, Polling and Notification, in Part 1 above come into force on November 1, 2025.

3. City Council direct that any poll that is commenced prior to November 1, 2025, but completed after November 1, 2025, be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 190, Polling and Notification as it existed immediately prior to the amendments coming into force on November 1, 2025.

Background Information (Committee)

(March 31, 2025) Report from the City Clerk on Amendments to Municipal Code Chapter 190, Polling and Notification including Lowering the Polling Age
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-254199.pdf
Attachment 1 - Amendments to Municipal Code Chapter 190, Polling and Notification
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-254200.pdf

Communications (City Council)

(April 18, 2025) Letter from Aleksi Toiviainen, General Coordinator, Vote16 Canada (CC.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/cc/comm/communicationfile-189307.pdf
(April 23, 2025) E-mail from Nicole Corrado (CC.New)

Motions (City Council)

Motion to Adopt Item (Carried)

Vote (Adopt Item) Apr-23-2025 4:06 PM

Result: Carried	Majority Required - EX22.5 - Adopt the item
Total members that voted Yes: 18	Members that voted Yes are Brad Bradford, Alejandra Bravo, Shelley Carroll, Lily Cheng, Rachel Chernos Lin, Olivia Chow, Parthi Kandavel, Ausma Malik, Josh Matlow, Chris Moise, Amber Morley, Jamaal Myers, Frances Nunziata (Chair), James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Dianne Saxe, Michael Thompson
Total members that voted No: 3	Members that voted No are Jon Burnside, Stephen Holyday, Nick Mantas
Total members that were Absent: 5	Members that were absent are Paul Ainslie, Mike Colle, Vincent Crisanti, Paula Fletcher, Jennifer McKelvie

EX22.5 - Amendments to Municipal Code Chapter 190, Polling and Notification including Lowering the Polling Age

Decision Type:: ACTION

Status:: Adopted

Wards:: All

Committee Recommendations

The Executive Committee recommends that:

1. City Council amend Municipal Code Chapter 190, Polling and Notification as follows and as outlined in Attachment 1 to the report (March 31, 2025) from the City Clerk:

a. lower the minimum age to vote in a poll from 18 years of age to 16 years of age, with the exception of polls required under Municipal Code Chapter 19, Business Improvement Areas;