New Canadians: your first municipal vote

Municipal voting in Ontario is for Canadian citizens. If you have your citizenship, are 18 or older on voting day, and live in London (or own or rent property here, or are married to someone who does), you can vote in this election.

If you are a permanent resident but not yet a citizen, you cannot vote yet, and we won't pretend otherwise. Your turn is coming: once your citizenship is granted, every election after that includes you. In the meantime you can still follow the race, ask candidates questions, and help neighbours get informed.

New citizens often aren't on the voters' list yet, and that's easy to fix. London directs voters to Elections Ontario's Register to Vote service: go to registertovoteon.ca or call 1-866-242-3025. Add yourself or update your address, and your trip to the voting place gets much smoother.

You do not need a driver's licence to vote, and you do not need photo ID at all. One document showing your name and your London address is enough. Documents on Ontario's accepted list include:

• A utility bill (hydro, water, gas, phone, or cable)
• A lease or rental agreement
• A bank statement or credit card statement
• Any document from the Government of Canada, Ontario, or a municipality
• An income tax assessment
• A cheque stub, T4, or pay receipt from an employer

If you have none of these, you can complete a Form 9 Declaration of Identity at the voting place and still vote.

You mark your ballot alone, behind a screen. No official, no employer, no landlord, no family member, and no government office learns how you voted. Voting for one candidate cannot hurt you with anyone else. That secrecy is the law in every Canadian election, and it protects every voter equally.