Presentation to help younger children understand Municipal Elections - Durham Region and Clarington. Created by Maralyn Tassone

1. WOW!
There’s an
Election!
Understanding
Municipal
Elections for Kids
Brought to you by
Maralyn Tassone, running for
Municipal Councillor, Ward 2,
Clarington

2. Elections are
really important!
• Elections are when
adults vote for the
people that are
going to make
really big decisions
that will impact all
of us.
• We are voting in
the Municipality of
Clarington, which
sits inside of the
region of Durham.
Where do you live?
Durham Region has 8
Municipalities!

3. You all live in
Durham Region!
• Durham Regional “Council”
has 29 members
• The members include
 the “Regional Chair” and
8 “Mayors” from the 8
municipalities.
 Regional “Councillors” from
the 8 municipalities are also
members.
 The Ward Councillors do
NOT sit on Regional Council.

4. Who Do We
Vote for?
1. A Regional Chair
(All of Durham
Region!)
2. A Municipal Mayor (Clarington)
3. A Regional Councillor
(Clarington & Durham Region)
4. A Municipal Ward Councillor
(Clarington)
5. A School Board Trustee
(‘School Boards’ are a different
map altogether!)

5. Which Person Do You Think is the Mayor?

6. Clarington is divided into four “wards”.
Each ward has a local Councillor and a Regional
Councillor.
“Electors” (people
who are allowed
to vote) in each
‘ward’ can vote for
the people who
are “running” in
each ward.
What ‘Ward’ to you live in? Who is ‘running’ in your ward?
I’m
Running
Here!

7. What does
Municipal
Council do?
Why is this
important?
• They represent the public
and they make choices that
impact the well-being
of Clarington & the people
that live here (us!)
• They develop and evaluate
the policies, the rules and
the programs for
Clarington
• They determine what kind
of services Clarington
should provide. Can you
think of any services?
• They make sure the taxes
($$$) that we pay are spent
wisely. Our taxes pay for
the services!

8. Who Organizes the
Elections?
•Every Municipality has
a “Municipal Clerk”
who is in charge of
running the election.
•This is a really
important job!

9. Why Vote?
• Your Region and Municipality is responsible for
the day-to-day services you count on, such as fire
and police services, water, parks, transit, roads
and public libraries.
• Your municipality decides how your parents’
property tax dollars are spent. Their vote and
who they vote for makes a real difference!!
• School trustees decide how best to meet the
needs of students by overseeing the building and
the care of schools, hiring the teachers and staff
needed to run them, and authorizing spending
on educational programs and initiatives. Sounds
important, hun?

10. WHEN DOES
MUNICIPAL VOTING
HAPPEN?
• Voting takes place every 4
years
• The Next Municipal Vote is
October 22nd.
• Go with your parents or
another adult when they
vote so you can see how it
all works!

11. Voter “ELIGIBILITY”
You are not old enough to Vote yet!! …
but you will be ‘eligible’ when:
• You are 18 years old and if you are a
Canadian Citizen.

12. How do
people
know they
can vote?
• Voters usually receive a card in the mail - ask
an adult in your house to show you their
voting card
• This card is for information only
• You must show identification at the voting
station to prove you live there – something
with your name and address on it, like a
drivers license or even an electricity bill!

13. What do Voting Cards look like?

14. When does the
Vote take place?
• October 22nd!!
• There is Advanced
Voting Oct 13th-
17th for people who
might be away or
cannot vote
October 22nd

15. • YEP! When you are old
enough you can be a
candidate!
• Anyone who is eligible to
vote can be a candidate.
• You will need to care about
people, be able to speak in
front of people, listen to
and understand what
people care about, and be
prepared to work really
hard and make good
decisions!
Can you be a Candidate and
run for election?
Running for Election!

16. What do you have to do to run for Council?
Its pretty simple! But it’s hard work!
• You have to ‘file’ your
papers when the
Municipality tells you to
• You must have 25 people
who live in Clarington
(the municipality) sign &
support your application
• It is good if you have
money and helpers to
put up signs, distribute
flyers, attend events and
knock on doors!

17. What else do
you have to
do to ‘run’
for Council?
• You have to spend a lot of time
knocking on 1000’s of doors
and speaking with people!
• You have to put your signs
everywhere in your area!
• You need to be able to tell
people why you are a good
candidate and what you will do
if they vote for you!
• You need to be able to create a
website, pamphlets and other
materials
• You need to ask people to vote
for you!

18. Thank you
for listening!
You are the
future
voter!!
Do you have any questions
you would like to ask?