Thunder Bay Municipal Election 2022
New workout suggestion: Exercising your right to vote! Trust us, it's way easier than push-ups.
All jokes aside, the Thunder Bay Municipal Election is on October 24th, and the Argus is encouraging you to VOTE! This article breaks down all the essential information on the upcoming municipal election!
Who is eligible to vote?
To be eligible to vote, you must be a Canadian citizen, at least 18 years of age, a resident of Thunder Bay, or the owner or tenant of land in Thunder Bay (or the spouse of such a person).
Not from Thunder Bay? That's okay! Canadian students not from Thunder Bay but currently living here while attending school are allowed to vote in their home municipality and in Thunder Bay.
How do I vote?
You will receive a Voter Information Letter (VIL), the municipal version of a "voter card."
"VILs" should have been mailed to eligible voters in late September. Your VIL will include the following:
Your voter identification number and PIN for internet voting
Dates and locations for advance voting, including drive-thru voting
Sites where you can vote in your ward on Election Day, October 24th
Information about accessible voting
Voter helpline information
Pass for a free transit ride to and from any poll on advance voting days or Election Day
If you do not receive the VIL and are an eligible voter, don't fret! You can still present identification to vote in person at an advance poll or Election Day poll. That said, you will need a voter identification number and PIN found on your VIL to vote online.
Voting options:
For the 2022 municipal election, you can choose from the following ways to vote:
Internet voting
Internet voting opened on October 5th and is available 24 hours a day until voting closes at 8 pm on October 24th. Your Voter Information Letter (VIL) has internet voting instructions and your voter identification number and PIN. With this information, you can vote online from anywhere!
Drive-thru voting
On October 18th, you can vote from 12 pm - 8 pm from the comfort of your car! This advanced voting option will be held at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium (1 Paul Shaffer Drive). Please remember to bring at least one piece of acceptable identification.
Election Day voting
Of course, you can vote the old fashion way on Election Day, October 24th, 2022. Your Voter Information Letter will show the voting location in your ward. Polls will be open from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm. Please remember to bring at least one piece of acceptable identification.
What to expect:
Regardless of which voting method you choose, you will have the opportunity to elect the following positions at the 2022 municipal election:
Mayor - 1 to be elected
At Large Councillors - 5 to be elected
Ward Councillors - 7 to be elected, one for each ward
School Board Trustees - see more information below
Depending on your school support, you will elect trustees for one of the following school boards:
Lakehead District School Board - 8 trustees to be elected
Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board - 6 trustees to be elected
Conseil scolaire public du Grand Nord de l’Ontario - 1 trustee to be elected
Conseil scolaire de district catholique des Aurores boréales - 5 trustees to be elected
Each candidate was invited to submit a photo and profile to provide information for the voters. Those profiles can be viewed here.
Still not convinced? Here is a video on the importance of voting:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVULzy032Yk
The Argus encourages all eligible voters to participate in the upcoming Municipal Election and to exercise their right to vote! For more information, please refer to the 2022 Voters' Guide.