Feature stories 

Ready, set, vote!  

It’s time to cast your ballot! On Oct. 24, Kingston will elect its next Mayor, District Councillors, and School Board Trustees. Voting in the 2022 Municipal Elections is YOUR opportunity to shape the future of our community. Voting is easy! Follow the steps below to make your voting experience as smooth as possible. 

Step one: confirm you are registered to vote. All eligible voters must be on the Voters List to cast their ballot. Confirm your information at CityofKingston.ca/Vote. 

Step two: cast your ballot. Whether you’re someone who likes to vote in advance, online or on Voting Day, we have an option for you. 

Online voting (Oct. 5 - 24) 

Vote online to avoid waiting in line! It’s easy, convenient, and secure. Eligible voters can vote online beginning at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 5. Online voting is available until 8 p.m. on Voting Day, Monday, Oct. 24. The deadline to register for online voting is 5 p.m. on Oct. 24. Your Voter Information Notice will contain your unique Voter Identification Number and instructions on how to obtain a PIN number to access online voting.  

Advance voting (Oct. 18 - 22) 

Cast your ballot in person at one of six voting locations on advance voting days, regardless of which district you live in. Advance voting locations include: 

• Rideau Heights Community Centre 

• Kingston East Community Centre 

• Portsmouth Olympic Harbour  

• INVISTA Centre 

• Isabel Turner Library 

• Central Library  

Advance voting hours: 

• Oct. 18 and 19 - 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  

• Oct. 20 – 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

• Oct. 21 and 22 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Voting Day (Oct. 24)  

Voters must cast their ballot at a voting location in their district on Voting Day. Voting locations are open from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. 

Accessible voting 

All voting locations on advance voting days and Voting Day offer electors the opportunity to use accessible voting equipment to cast their ballot privately and independently. An American Sign Language interpreter will be available on Friday, Oct. 21 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the INVISTA Centre voting place. All electors are eligible to vote at this voting place. 

Free transit on Advance Voting Days and Voting Day 
Kingston Transit and Kingston Access Bus will offer free transit to electors on both advance voting days and Voting Day during voting place hours. You must show your Voter Information Notice when you board the bus. Free transportation on Kingston Access Bus will be for registered users of that service only and when reserving their transportation, the elector will have to identify their voting destination. 

Why your vote matters 

Think about all the services the City of Kingston is responsible for providing that impact your day-to-day life. Learn which candidates will best represent the issues that mean the most to you, your family, and your community. 

• Public transit 

• Childcare 

• Active transportation 

• Economic development 

• Climate action 

• Road and sidewalk maintenance 

• Arts and culture 

• Waste and recycling 

• Parks 

• Recreational facilities and programming 

• Tourism 

• Accessibility 

• Fire & Rescue 

• And more! 

“Every part of your day is touched by municipal services,” says Derek Ochej, Acting Deputy City Clerk. “You can shape City programs and services by voting for the candidates who align with your values and vision for the future of Kingston.” 

We live in a thriving and engaged community. Help ensure every voice is heard. Learn how to cast your ballot this October at CityofKingston.ca/Vote. 

Addressing voter turnout and accessibility  

Voter turnout in Kingston’s municipal elections has been approximately 40 per cent for the past six elections dating back to 2000. While this number is comparable to the average voter turnout in municipalities across the province, it still means more than half of eligible electors are not participating in municipal elections. Here are a few ways the City’s Elections Office is expanding outreach, enhancing accessibility, and creating more opportunities for the community to vote.   

Community partnerships 

Elections staff work directly with community partners, including Kingston Community Health Centres and Partners in Mission Food Bank, to share resources and educate residents about voting options. “We recognize that unequal internet access to find resources or vote online means parts of the electorate are underrepresented in voting results,” says Janet Jaynes, Assistant Returning Officer. “By working with other organizations providing frontline services, we can directly provide people with the information they need to participate in the elections and have more equitable representation.” 

Connecting with vulnerable populations 

Staff are also working with other City departments to provide voting information to vulnerable populations, including people experiencing homelessness or in transitory housing without a permanent address. “Our staff are working with community members to provide clear information about voting requirements, so they are prepared when they arrive at a voting location,” says Joanne Borris, Housing Program Administrator with Housing and Social Services. 

Increasing the number of advance voting days 

New for 2022, the number of advance voting days was increased from one to five, with six voting locations across the city. This increase means added flexibility for voters: on advance voting days, from Oct. 18 to 22, eligible electors can vote at any of the six locations, regardless of where they live in Kingston. This means you can stop by and vote as part of your daily commute, incorporate it into your errands, or cast your ballot during a visit to the library or the gym. 

Accessibility plan 

Improving accessibility during the municipal elections ensures that all who wish to vote have equal access to cast their ballot, and information about the candidates for each office. The Elections Office created a comprehensive plan, including but not limited to: 

• Increasing the duration of online voting to 20 days in 2022, from 10 days in 2018. The online voting system is WCAG 2.1 AA compliant. 

• Providing multiple options for accessible voting equipment when voting in person to accommodate different abilities. 

• Kingston Access Bus will provide free transportation for registered clients to and from voting places on advance voting days and Voting Day. 

• Performing accessibility audits for all voting locations. 

• Providing accessibility training to Designated Elections Officials to ensure an accessible voting experience for persons with disabilities. 

These combined measures are wide-reaching and require collaboration with many City staff and community partners. Questions and feedback are welcome, and can be sent by email to [email protected], by phone at 613-546-4291, ext. 1430, or by mail to City of Kingston, Clerk’s Department, 216 Ontario St., Kingston, Ontario, K7L 2Z3. 

Let’s get quizzical: Elections trivia  

Trivia buffs, now is your time to shine. Test your friends and family to see how much they know about Kingston’s Mayor and Council, and voting in the upcoming elections! 

Q. Who was the first Mayor of Kingston? 

A: Thomas Kirkpatrick, first elected in 1838 and again in 1847. 

Q. Who was Kingston’s first female Mayor? 

A: Helen Cooper (1988 - 1993) was Kingston’s first female Mayor. Isabel Turner (2000 - 2003) was Kingston’s second. 

Q. What former townships were amalgamated into the City of Kingston in 1998? 

A: Pittsburgh and Kingston Townships. 

Q. Which Kingston Mayor was killed in action at the Battle of Vimy Ridge in World War I? 

A: John McDonald Mowat. 

Q. How many members make up Kingston City Council? 

A: 13 (12 District Councillors and 1 Mayor). 

Q: What qualifications does a person require to vote in the Municipal Elections? 

A: 

• 18 years of age or older as of Oct. 24, 2022 

• A Canadian citizen 

• Resident of Kingston or property owner/tenant or spouse of property owner/tenant in Kingston 

Q: True or False? You can vote online in Kingston. 

A: True. Online voting is open for registered voters beginning 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 5 to 8 p.m. on Voting Day, Monday, Oct. 24. 

Q: In addition to electing a Mayor and District Councillors, Kingston voters will vote in which other elected office on Oct. 24? 

A: School board trustee. There are four school boards that serve Kingston:  

1. Limestone District School Board 

1. Algonquin-Lakeshore Catholic District School Board 

1. Le conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario 

1. Le conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est 

Q. True or False? Post-secondary students cannot vote in municipal elections in the city in which they are going to school. 

A: False – students who are living away from home while they attend school are eligible to vote in their home municipality as well as the municipality they are currently living in while attending school. 

Q. True or False? Kingston Transit is offering free transportation for electors on Voting Day. 

A: True – all riders who show their Voter Information Notice on an advance voting day or Voting Day will be able to ride Kingston Transit for free. 

Q. True or False? There is one day of advance voting for the 2022 Municipal Elections. 

A: False – new for 2022, there are five days of advance voting (Oct. 18 - 22). 

Tell Me More about … getting out and voting! 

Tune in to this special episode to learn all you need to know about getting out to vote! Join Acting Deputy City Clerk Derek Ochej as he tells us more about where and how you can vote, new online voting options, and how you can make your voting experience as seamless as possible. 

Tell me more about... Getting out and voting!

News to use 

• Know what’s happening on the roads – Sign up for the traffic report. Issued each Friday afternoon.  

• Follow along with City Council. Watch the livestream on our YouTube channel or catch up with Horseshoe Highlights from Mayor Bryan Paterson. 

• Are you registered to vote? Take two minutes to confirm you’re on the Voters List at CityofKingston.ca/Vote. 

• Get Involved, Kingston! Offer input or feedback on the latest municipal projects. 

• Travel from Kingston to the world with PASCAN from YGK Airport. Fly from YGK (Kingston) to YUL (Montreal) and then on to wherever your vacation heart desires. 

• Never miss a collection date! Download the Kingston Waste app to get your garbage and recycling schedules and reminders sent right to your phone. The app can also tell you how to recycle or dispose of household items, helping you divert waste from the landfill. 

Mark your calendar 

• Do you have furniture, books, small appliances, or clothes that are taking up space? On Saturday, Oct. 22 put out items you no longer want for neighbours who might like them on Giveaway Day. 

• Join us for Wheels on the Runway, in partnership with United Way and sponsored by Assante Wealth Management Fenlon Financial, at YGK Airport on Saturday, Oct. 22, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

• Cast your ballot on Voting Day, Oct. 24. 

• Tour the spectacular outdoor experience of glowing pumpkins inside the walls of Fort Henry at Pumpkinferno, all month long.