Full Breakdown
Community Groups Mobilize to Counter Voter Apathy Ahead of Toronto’s Municipal Election
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Fair-Style Outreach at Lawrence Heights
A non-partisan civic-engagement fair was held at the Lawrence Heights Community Centre, organized by North York Harvest Food Bank and featuring the Voice the Vote initiative—a partnership between Toronto Metropolitan University’s Democratic Engagement Exchange and United Way Greater Toronto. Attendees moved among tents, a hot-dog cart and an ice-cream truck while volunteers distributed election handbooks, operated a mock ballot box and arranged transportation to advance polling sites.
Background & Context: Persistent Low Turnout in Municipal Races
Toronto’s recent municipal elections have shown a downward trend in voter participation. The 2023 mayoral by-election recorded a 37 % turnout, while the 2022 municipal election fell below 30 %. In 2018, turnout rose to about 41 %. Province-wide, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario reports roughly 33 % participation in 2022 and 38 % in 2018. Early-voting numbers for the upcoming election are unusually high, with more than 222,000 ballots cast at advance polls—the largest figure in over a decade.
Key Figures & Groups
- Jonathan Dong – Volunteer with Voice the Vote.
- Rania Ahmed – Project lead at the Democratic Engagement Exchange.
- Warren Epstein – Senior citizen who used the fair’s transportation service.
- Abby Tait – Senior public-affairs officer at United Way.
- Sarah Watson – Director of community engagement at North York Harvest Food Bank.
Data & Statistics
- Early-voting turnout: >222,000 ballots, highest in more than ten years.
- Historical municipal turnout: 37 % (2023), <30 % (2022), ~41 % (2018).
- Provincial municipal turnout: ~33 % (2022), ~38 % (2018).
- Event attendance: roughly 200 community members, with about 20 transported to an advance polling site.
Official Statements & Responses
Abby Tait explained that Voice the Vote was conceived in the summer of 2025 after consecutive provincial and federal elections, describing the project as “ambitious” and aimed at grounding the municipal vote in local issues. She noted United Way’s network of around 300 agencies is being leveraged to reach immigrant communities and younger voters.
Sarah Watson emphasized the food bank’s role in linking emergency support to civic participation, stating that while the organization cannot solve systemic problems such as affordable housing or food insecurity, it can help residents influence the policymakers who address those challenges.
Rania Ahmed highlighted the initiative’s micro-grant program, which funds community-generated ideas for election-related projects across Toronto, York and Peel regions.
On-the-Ground Reports
Participants wrote personal reasons for voting on colourful sticky notes, citing “support for unhoused neighbours,” “a clean city,” and “mental health safety.” Taxis shuttled voters to and from advance polling sites, illustrating a practical effort to reduce logistical barriers. Esther Johnson, an event attendee, said she will vote because “every vote counts,” while Warren Epstein stressed the need for representatives who will act on senior-citizen concerns.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I think that participating in our democratic process, especially considering … how many people around the world aren’t able to cast a vote, is incredibly important,” — Jonathan Dong
- “You need people who are going to do things for the people and the senior citizens, and you want to make sure that the right people are voted in for the right activities,” — Warren Epstein
What’s Next
The municipal election is scheduled for late October. Community groups plan to continue outreach through additional fairs, micro-grant projects and transportation services in the weeks leading up to the vote, aiming to sustain the early-voting momentum and improve overall turnout.