A provincial election has been called for February 27, 2025. We have put together some quick facts about when, how, and why to vote.
Unfortunately we can only provide this information in English, but you you can translate this page and all pages on ISAC’s website by using the language drop-down menu in the top left corner of the website (found under “Menu” on the mobile version.)
When is Election Day for the Ontario election?
The provincial election is coming up on Thursday February 27, 2025!
I moved recently / I’m not sure if I’m registered. What type of ID do I need to prove that I can vote?
Elections Ontario has the most up-to-date information about how and where to vote: https://www.elections.on.ca/en.html.
You can check that you are on the voters list, update your address, or register to vote here: https://vreg.registertovoteon.ca/en/home
According to Elections Ontario, photo ID is not required to vote. If you choose to provide 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 when you go to vote. ID can be shown on a mobile device. International ID or permanent resident cards are not accepted.
If you are not on the list of voters on Election Day, you can register on the spot at the polling location associated with your address. You can use your postal code to find out your electoral district, and starting on February 14, where you should go to vote on Election Day: https://voterinformationservice.elections.on.ca/en/election/search?mode=postalCode
Find out the different ways you can vote (i.e. in person, by mail, etc.) here: https://www.elections.on.ca/en/voting-in-ontario/voting-in-provincial-elections.html
More information about accessible voting options can be found here: https://www.elections.on.ca/en/voting-in-ontario/accessible-voting.html
I’m currently homeless / couch-surfing / staying at a shelter but I otherwise qualify to vote (I’m a citizen, I’m over 18, etc.) Can I still vote?
YES!
People who have no fixed address can vote in the area where they have been living during the 5 weeks before the election date. Since the election is going to happen on February 27, 2025, that means that you can vote in the area you have been staying in as of January 23, 2025.
Food banks and shelters can offer houseless people a “Certificate of Identity and Residence”. It will include the client’s voting location. More information about the Certificate of Identity and Residence is here: https://www.elections.on.ca/en/resource-centre/outreach/administrative-resources-for-electors-without-a-permanent-address.html
Why should I vote?
Voting is one of many different actions you can take to advocate for the things you care about, and to help change the conditions under which we all live.
The Ontario government makes a lot of decisions that impact daily life, including how much rent your landlord can charge, what kind of help you can get if you lose your job, how much money you will get on your monthly social assistance cheque, and many others.
With regard to social assistance (also known as welfare), the Ontario government is responsible for setting the laws, regulations, and funding levels for Ontario Works (OW) and the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP).
The provincial government is responsible for:
- Laws, regulations (rules that guide how the laws are carried out), and policy directives (details about how the programs will follow the rules) that guide OW and ODSP;
- Tribunals and judicial boards like the Landlord & Tenant Board (LTB) and the Social Benefits Tribunal (SBT) which interpret the law and make rulings about disputes; and,
- Funding for provincial programs such as social assistance, Employment Ontario services, and labour law enforcement
Being able to set the law is important but so is having the ability to set regulations and policy directives. Our social assistance system is guided by regulations and policy directives that do the following:
- Set the limits to how much people receiving supports through these programs can earn, keep, and maintain in terms of assets (cars, property, etc.);
- Decide how OW and ODSP income and benefits will interact with other benefit programs like Employment Insurance (EI), Canada Pension Plan Disability (CPP-D), and WSIB income;
- Set the monthly rate amounts for social assistance cheques; and
- Decide who is allowed to access provincial social assistance programs.
The province is also responsible for deciding and enforcing the Employment Standards Act, which regulates:
- Minimum wage rates
- Statutory holidays
- Vacation pay rates
- Rules about employment termination
- Types of employment contracts
- Many other labour-related issues
You can use election campaign time to get political candidates to talk about the poverty-related issues that you care about and get commitments from them that you can follow up about after the election.
Who should I vote for?
ISAC is a not-for-profit, non-partisan organization, and we are not registered lobbyists. We are not in the business of telling anyone who to vote for. We are in the “business” of protecting and expanding the rights of people living on low incomes in Ontario, which includes providing public education. As such, we can only tell you what we think everyone in Ontario should care about when it comes to the rights of people living on low incomes in Ontario.
It is the responsibility of every political representative, regardless of what party they belong to, to advocate for changes to the law and to ensure funding for infrastructure and programs that will improve the lives of people living on low incomes in Ontario.
You can find out more about the four major political parties in Ontario and their platforms through their websites:
Green Party of Ontario: https://gpo.ca/
Ontario Liberal Party: https://ontarioliberal.ca/
Ontario New Democratic Party: https://www.ontariondp.ca/
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario: https://ontariopc.ca/
You can also find a full list of all registered political parties here: https://finances.elections.on.ca/en/registered-parties
To find out more about what each political party is saying, you can read articles, listen to news and podcasts about what the different political parties are proposing, and attend All-Candidates meetings in your area.
Local All-Candidates meetings are usually organized and promoted by community groups, food banks, and other local advocates. You can also check the information boards at your local library and community centre. All-Candidates meetings are often held and promoted in public places.
You can also call your local candidates offices and ask to speak directly with them! To become more informed, you can:
- Ask each of your local political candidates where they stand on the issues that you care about.
- Talk to your local political candidates about how harmful policies are impacting you, your loved ones, or you community.
- Write to your local news outlets about why the issues you care about are important.
You can download the PDF version of these Quick Facts by clicking here.