Toronto votes: What you need to know for municipal election

[spaminator]

Toronto votes: What you need to know for municipal election
How to check you're on the voters' list and how to cast your ballot before or on Oct. 26 election day

Author of the article:Spiro Papuckoski
Published Oct 08, 2026 • Last updated 9 hours ago • 2 minute read
Toronto residents will head to the polls on Monday, Oct. 26 to elect the city's next mayor, local councillors and school trustees.
Toronto residents will head to the polls on Monday, Oct. 26 to elect the city's next mayor, local councillors and school trustees. Photo by Penguin /Adobe Stock

Torontonians will head to the polls on Oct. 26 to elect the city’s next mayor as well as their local councillor and school board trustee.


Here is what you need to know for the upcoming municipal elections.

Who is eligible to vote?
Only Canadian citizens who are residents of the city and at least 18 years old can vote on election day.

If you are a non-resident but own or rent property in the city, you can also vote, regardless of how many properties you own.

Residents can only vote in the ward where they live and must show identification with their name and Toronto address at the poll.

Students living away from home are eligible to vote in both Toronto and in the municipality where they currently live to attend school.

How do I know if I’m on the voter list?
All Toronto residences should have received a notice in the mail showing who is entered on the list of electors at that address.

Residents can confirm, add or update the status of their voter information by using the city’s MyVote website or by calling 311.

The deadline to make changes to the voters’ list online is Sunday at 7 p.m.

If you didn’t receive a voter information card in the mail, you can download or print your digital voter information card through the MyVote website.

You can also add your name to the voters’ list in person during advance voting or on election day.



Where do I vote?
Residents should check their voter information card for the poll station address in their ward.

You can also cast your ballot in person during advance voting days at two alternate polling locations listed on the information card, which ends Sunday at 7 p.m.



What do I need to bring to the polling station?
Voters must present to poll workers one piece of identification that shows your name and Toronto address to prove you identity and residency. Photo ID is not required.

Pieces of ID include an Ontario-issued photo card, driver’s licence, motor vehicle permit, cancelled personalized cheque, a credit card or bank account statement, a utility bill for hydro, water, gas, telephone or cable TV, or any other document from the government of Canada, Ontario, or City of Toronto.

For a full list of acceptable ID, voters can consult the city’s electoral information.

Identification

To vote, you must show an election official one piece of acceptable identification (ID) with your name and qualifying Toronto address. Photo ID is not required. You cannot use your voter information card as ID. You cannot use your passport as ID, as it does not show your address. Electronic ID...

toronto.ca

http://myvote.toronto.ca/home

Toronto votes: What you need to know for municipal election

Torontonians will head to the polls Oct. 26 to elect the city's next mayor as well as their local councillor and school trustee. Read more.

torontosun.com

 

[spaminator]

Toronto man accused of stealing hundreds of election signs in Etobicoke
Police say a man turned himself in after hundreds of election signs were stolen, damaged in New Toronto

Author of the article:Justin Holmes
Published Oct 15, 2026 • Last updated 11 hours ago • 2 minute read
Lake Shore signs
Images of a man holding folded-up election signs at the corner of Islington Ave. and Lake Shore Blvd. were shared over social media on Thanksgiving weekend.

Toronto Police said that they have charged a man after hundreds of election signs were stolen and damaged in New Toronto.


Police said that the signs were allegedly pilfered and trashed in an area around Islington Ave. and Lake Shore Blvd. from the day election signs were allowed to go up on Oct. 1, right up to as recently as Thanksgiving weekend.

Cops did not say in their statement which candidate’s signs had been taken. However, photos shared on social media over the weekend show a man holding folded-up signs for Ted Opitz, a former Conservative MP, while standing at the corner of Islington and Lake Shore.

Opitz is challenging incumbent Amber Morley in the Etobicoke–Lakeshore ward.

In an emailed statement on Thursday night, Opitz did not comment specifically on the arrest but said he was “deeply concerned” about the loss of campaign signs and the squandered “time and effort invested by volunteers.

“Political campaigns should be decided by voters, not undermined by the alleged unlawful removal, destruction and disposal of campaign signs,” Opitz said. “Such actions undermine the principles of a fair and democratic election.”


Accused surrendered to cops Wednesday
The photos of the bald, bearded man carrying the Opitz signs were shared on Thanksgiving weekend on the social media platform X by regulars in Toronto’s political scene, including former MP Kevin Vuong and Laryssa Waler, a representative for Brad Bradford’s mayoral campaign.

A man was allegedly “observed removing and damaging election signs” and was seen throwing some in a dumpster, Toronto Police said in their statement. They said “several hundred” had reportedly been carried off.

A man turned himself in at 22 Division on Wednesday, Toronto Police said.

Eric Sullivan, 35, of Toronto, faces charges of theft under $5,000 and mischief under $5,000.

jholmes@postmedia.com

Toronto man accused of stealing hundreds of election signs in Etobicoke

Toronto Police said that a man turned himself in after hundreds of election signs were stolen and damaged in New Toronto. More here.

torontosun.com

 

[spaminator]

Mississauga enforcing rules on illegal election signs
Candidates reporting vandalism and theft

Author of the article:Gordon Anderson
Published Oct 19, 2026 • 2 minute read
election signs
A person walks past Mississauga mayoral candidate Carolyn Parrish's election sign with graffiti stating “+ TAX” in reference to the possibility of higher taxes on the horizon, Illegally placed signs, vandalism and sign placement are hot-button topics in the heated race for mayor. Photo by Peter J. Thompson /POSTMEDIA NEWS

Illegally stationed signs, vandalism and sign placement are concerns in the electoral race for mayor of Mississauga.


The city has a whole host of rules and regulations designed to keep a lid on illegal behaviour. Financial penalties are also part of the overall enforcement effort.

“City staff will review each report of an illegal sign,” the city posted on its website. “If a sign does not follow the by-law, the city may remove it and may take further enforcement action, including laying charges under the Provincial Offences Act. City crews are also proactively patrolling the city and will remove illegally placed signs.”

Mayor Carolyn Parrish posted a short video on her Facebook site, showing an individual allegedly stealing one of her signs. The video was dated Oct. 14.

“Vandalizing billboards and taking campaign signs won’t silence me or shake my commitment to Mississauga,” she said on Facebook. “I’ve faced tougher challenges than this Let’s keep this election about respect, ideas and the future of our city.”


Overall, Mississauga placed eight limitations on the legality of signage. Some of them include elections signs cannot be placed on public property; on traffic signs or other official signs; where they block sightlines at an intersection; where they block the view of drivers or pedestrians and within 50 metres of a polling station.

“These rules help keep roads, sidewalks and public spaces safe,” the city said. ‘They also help prevent visibility problems and other hazards.”

Mayoral candidate Alvin Tedjo said his signs have been stolen and vandalized.

A spokesperson for Tedjo told CityNews several incidents having occurred on the campaign trail.

“Some of our volunteers have reported being followed by supporters of opposing campaigns while canvassing neighbourhoods,” Kris Pangilinan said. “We have also seen paid protesters at campaign events.”

Attack with a knife
Tedjo also reported an incident that happened earlier this month.

In an Oct. 6 post on his X account, the candidate said a volunteer from his team was “confronted by a stranger and attacked with a knife while installing election signs.” “Thankfully, our volunteer only suffered non-life-threatening injuries.”


Candidate Dipika Damerla said some of her signs have been taken down or defaced.

“It is hard to say who is doing this, but it appears to be happening to every candidate,” Damerla told CityNews.

And former mayor Bonnie Crombie said her team works hard at obeying the rules.

City officials say residents should not move or remove signs on public property, but report it to the city instead. However, property owners may remove signs placed on their property without permission.

“Staff will review each report of an illegal sign,” the city wrote. “If a sign does not follow the by-law, the city may remove it and may take further enforcement action.”

There are 14 candidates running for mayor. A full list can be found on the city’s website.

ganderson@postmedia.com

Elections

Find official information about Mississauga's general elections and by-elections.

mississauga.ca

Official list of 2026 Municipal Election candidates now available

The list of candidates for the 2026 Municipal Election has been finalized. Find out who's running for Mayor, Councillor and School Board Trustee.

mississauga.ca

http://twitter.com/search?q=alvin%20tedjo&src=typed_query

Election sign enforcement has cost Mississauga over $50,000: officials

Mississauga election signs have become another flashpoint as candidates report vandalism, theft and disputes over sign placement.

toronto.citynews.ca

Mayor Carolyn Parrish

Vandalizing billboards and taking campaign signs won't silence me or shake my commitment to Mississauga. They even left the ladder behind! I've faced tougher challenges than this! Let's keep this...

facebook.com

Mississauga enforcing rules on illegal election signs

Illegally stationed signs, vandalism and sign placement are concerns in the electoral race for mayor of Mississauga. Read more.

torontosun.com

 

[spaminator]

Extortion accused and ex-con enter Brampton political fray
The mayor, police chief and rival campaigns are all raising concerns about who is trying to influence the city’s election

Author of the article:Brian Lilley
Published Oct 24, 2026 • Last updated 8 hours ago • 3 minute read
Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah reveals details of Project 24K, during a news conference in Brampton on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. ERNEST DOROSZUK/TORONTO SUN
Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah reveals details of Project 24K, during a news conference in Brampton on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. Photo by ERNEST DOROSZUK /TORONTO SUN
Local politics in once-sleepy Brampton have taken a turn, with people facing criminal charges, a convicted drug trafficker and other controversial figures becoming involved in local campaigns.


It’s strange enough that the chief of police and the current mayor, who is seeking re-election, have commented.


In one instance, two people arrested and charged in separate extortion busts are actively backing a council candidate with his own strange past. In another case, a man who served prison time in the United States following cross-border drug-trafficking charges is backing a slate of candidates whom critics claim are less friendly to police.

“We’re equally as frustrated. The mayor and I were talking about one of our extortion announcements earlier this year and some of those charged in it,” Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah said at a news conference last week.

“They’re actually, you know, out very publicly helping with people’s municipal campaign elections, which is very frustrating.”

Accused extortionists on the trail
Chief Duraiappah was referencing Dupinderdeep Cheema and Tejinder Tatla, both of whom are supporting former councillor Gurpreet Dhillon, who is trying to mount a comeback.


Cheema was arrested in the summer of 2024 and charged with extortion, criminal harassment, conspiracy to commit an indictable offence and failure to comply, that last charge indicating a past run-in with the law. Police accuse Cheema and his associates of engaging in a violent extortion ring targeting Brampton residents and businesses in the South Asian community.

Tatla was arrested later that same year in a separate bust, with police alleging he had made threats toward a business owner and his family. Police allegedly seized three firearms from Tatla’s home and charged him with unsafe storage and extortion.

None of the charges have been tested in court, and both men were released into the community pending trial.

Over the course of the campaign, both Cheema and Tatla have been showing up at events in support of Dhillon and being photographed with the candidate.

Dhillon has his own complicated past.

He was a councillor from 2014 until he lost in the 2022 election. The loss followed an allegation of sexual harassment of a woman during an official city trip to Turkiye in 2019.


While Dhillon denied the allegations, council suspended him for 90 days pending an investigation. A report by Brampton’s Integrity Commissioner found that Dhillon had engaged in “unnecessary, unwelcome, and unwanted sexual touching” of the woman, with an audio recording of the incident revealing that she said “no” 74 times in less than three minutes.

Dhillon maintains his innocence. The woman’s lawsuit was later settled out of court.



Mayor sounds the alarm
Patrick Brown, currently the mayor of Brampton and also seeking re-election to a third term, called all of this troubling.

“Enhancing my concern over criminality trying to influence our municipal election campaign is that a man charged of recently terrorizing our community through brazen extortions is now working on a campaign for Regional Councillor,” Brown said.


“What input do they expect at the regional council table from these candidates, that if successful, will oversee the police budget?”

He called on residents to do their homework on who the candidates are and who is supporting those candidates.

That is likely because one of Brown’s main rivals, Prabh Gill, is being supported by a man named Avi Dhaliwal. Back in 2006, court records show that Dhaliwal was subject to extradition proceedings on charges related to cross-border drug trafficking.

Dhaliwal was extradited to the United States in 2007 and released in 2010 after serving his sentence. He now describes himself on social media as a business leader and dedicated community advocate.


Voters have plenty to weigh
Supporters of Brown’s campaign are accusing Gill of accepting the backing of people they view as soft on crime.

All that is to say Brampton politics is anything but boring.

Voters heading to the polls on Monday aren’t just choosing candidates, they’re deciding what kind of people they want influencing city hall.

blilley@postmedia.com

International Drug-Trafficking Convicted Criminal Avi Dhaliwal Draws Scrutiny as he backs Prabh Gill and Slate Against Law-and-Order Mayor Patrick Brown

Brampton businessman convicted of federal narcotics offences in Detroit in 2007 is promoting multiple municipal candidates, raising questions about political…

bramptonist.com

http://canlii.org/en/on/onsc/doc/2006/2006canlii40237/2006canlii40237.html

Brampton integrity commissioner finds Councillor Gurpreet Dhillon sexually harassed a woman while in Turkey in 2019

The commissioner’s report is not a finding of criminal wrongdoing or guilt, and the complainant’s allegations, which include sexual assault, have not been tested in court. Dhillon denies the allegations.

thestar.com

5 men arrested in Peel extortion probe

Police said the suspects were allegedly involved in "extorting victims by assaulting, threatening and discharging firearms."

toronto.citynews.ca

LILLEY: Extortion accused and ex-con enter Brampton political fray

Candidates, their backers and their pasts are becoming a central issue as Brampton voters head to the polls. Read more.

torontosun.com