Craig SailaJun 26, 2023

If you’re able to vote in #Toronto’s #mayoral election today
— polls are now open — please go vote! 🗳️

If you need more details (where to vote, etc) here you go:

https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/elections/by-election/by-election-voter-information/myvote-by-elections/

#TorontoMayor #TOPoli #VoteTO

2023 By-Election for Mayor: MyVote

Get started with MyVote to find out where you go to vote on election day (June 26), check the list of candidates, download or print your voter information card (if you’re on the voters’ list) and review a sample ballot. Use MyVote On election day, June 26, you must vote at your designated location that […]

City of Toronto
Show threadCraig SailaJun 26, 2023
And I presume most of you here in #fediverse know that the person to vote as a Toronto’s next #mayor is #OlivaChow, but just in case, here’s her platform:
https://www.oliviachow.ca/plan
Olivia's Plan for Toronto

Olivia Chow for Mayor of Toronto
Show threadCraig SailaJun 26, 2023

One of my earliest proofs of the importance of #InclusiveDesign was when #OlivaChow’s husband (the late #JackLayton) told me how he learned to put in the marketing material — a candidate’s number on ballot)

Why?

Because in cities like #Toronto, many voters aren’t familiar with Latin letters (and names spelled in English) but numbers are almost universally recognized

Seeing Olivia’s campaign listing her name with “25” was a nice reminder of how much she influenced him

#TOvotes #TOpoli

Show threadCraig SailaJun 26, 2023
(What Jack didn’t say, but knew was true, was even those literate in English remember a few numbers better than unfamiliar names — and like all good #InclusiveDesign, what is designed to solve the #mismatch for one group benefits many, many more!)
Show threadCraig SailaJun 26, 2023
Also realizing: #Toronto elections are a great why to discover my community here in the #fediverse!
Show threadCraig Saila

And CBC just called it! #OliviaChow is #Toronto's next mayor!

#TOvotes #TOpoli

Jun 27, 2023 at 12:53amWeb
Show threadCraig SailaJun 27, 2023

#OliviaChow is the first #Toronto #mayor who is not white and who is also an immigrant — and she's the first woman mayor in 25 years

#TorotnoMayor #TOpoli #TOvotes

Show threadTricia WoodJun 27, 2023
And first woman mayor of the amalgamated city.
Show threadCraig SailaJun 27, 2023
@Pkbwood Yes!
Show threadMatt WelkeJun 27, 2023
@Pkbwood It's remarkable to me how much she unites people. I have to search hard to find people who don't like her. Usually it's the hardest of hard right folks.
Show threadMichael GemarJun 27, 2023
@saila Outstanding! That was a mail-biter for a while there.
Show threadCraig SailaJun 27, 2023
@michaelgemar Surprisingly close, but hoping the participation starts to reinvigorate the local democracy in this city
Show threadMichael GemarJun 27, 2023
@saila But the turnout was, unfortunately, terrible.
Show threadCraig SailaJun 27, 2023
@michaelgemar Yes… altho as a by-election, I would have been surprised had it topped the last election in October
Show threadMichael GemarJun 27, 2023
@saila I guess — it didn’t *feel* like a by-election to me, but I suppose for many other folks it was a weird time.
Show threadCraig SailaJun 27, 2023

@michaelgemar And looks like I should have been surprised about the turnout — CBC saying more people voted in this election than in October!

Will be really interested to see the final tally

Show threadMichael GemarJun 27, 2023
@saila That’s positive news, in a night of positives.