Work and volunteer opportunities with the Toronto Municipal Election

So, you’ve registered to vote — or are still procrastinating — and are wondering what else you can do in the meantime. I’ve got you!

If you’re looking to make some extra money during the election period, there are opportunities with the City of Toronto, and you can learn social skills and the logistics behind election campaigning through volunteering. But how and where do you find these openings?

That’s where The Green Line comes in! We’ve curated a list of jobs, volunteer gigs and more, so you can be more active in the upcoming Toronto Municipal Election.

Election jobs

The City of Toronto has several job positions available, and it’s all done through an online portal.

P.S. You are not eligible to work for the Oct. 26 election if you are:

• a candidate or registered third-party advertiser,
• an immediate family member of a candidate,
• or actively working to support or oppose a candidate in the Toronto Municipal Election.

The City of Toronto is advertising the following jobs and responsibilities on its website:

• Access officer
  • Ensure that every voter is welcomed with respect and dignity. Whether you’re opening doors, guiding voters to an accessible entrance or assisting with elevators, you help make the voting place inclusive and barrier-free.
• Customer service officer
  • Ensure they are ready to vote and have their identification in hand; you guide them through the voting place and direct them to the correct team member.
• Tabulator deputy returning officer (tabulator officer)
  • You accept ballots from voters while maintaining the secrecy of their vote, operate the vote tabulator, and troubleshoot any issues that arise.
• Voter assist terminal officer (VAT officer)
  • Responsible for supporting voters with disabilities by helping them use the Voter Assist Terminal (VAT).
• Ballot deputy returning officer (ballot officer)
  • You help ensure that each eligible voter receives the correct ballots, understands how to complete their ballot, and that the process is secure, fair, and efficient.
• Revising deputy returning officer (revising officer)
  • Responsible for helping to maintain the accuracy of the voters’ list by following the established process in accordance with the Municipal Elections Act, 1996.
• Standby officer — Election day
  • Prepared to take on any role and support the voting place team within the Ward Centre boundaries and, if required, may be deployed to adjoining wards.
• Deputy returning officer (DRO)
  • Assist eligible voters by making accurate updates to the voters’ list, operating the vote tabulator, following all policies and procedures and troubleshooting any issues that arise.
• Managing deputy returning officer (MDRO)
  • Takes on a leadership role, overseeing a large voting place and supporting the entire team.

Volunteering gigs

If you aren’t selected by the City for an election job, you can still participate in the voting period by volunteering!

If you want to volunteer for a mayoral or councillor candidate, you can look up everyone running on the City of Toronto’s website to find someone who aligns with your values and reach out to be a part of their campaign.

Most candidate websites have a “support us” or “get involved” section that lists if they need help with canvassing, event production, etc. This is another great way to learn more about who could run the ward and city you call home.

Or, get involved directly with your community! There are plenty of organizations gearing up for the election with campaign promises, petitions and election-focused events. Most of these organizations are volunteer-run, and the election can be a busy season when they need your help to get people engaged civically.

Here are a couple of organizations you should follow during the election for volunteer opportunities:

• Voice the Vote; a collective powered by The Democratic Engagement Exchange at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) and United Way Greater Toronto that helps inform residents about the election, how to vote and trains people like you to engage others. Their next training session is on Monday, Sept. 14 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
• Are you a union member? Most unions will have opportunities for advocating to candidates and voters about workers’ issues, working to have them endorse proper labour laws and building a good relationship with their potentially new collaborators. Check in with your local representative to learn about what your union could do during the election.
• Progress Toronto; an organization created to build “a democratic, socially just, progressive Toronto.” Their volunteers spread out across the city to hand out flyers, chat with Torontonians about city issues and more.

While The Green Line isn’t hiring for the election, we are hosting an Action Journey event in October dedicated to all things elections-related. We’d love to see you there!

Stay civically engaged with your civic big sister, Aia Jaber! She’s posting every Thursday on our website with episodes and guides to prepare you for the election so you can make an informed decision on voting day.

Have a question about Toronto’s municipal election? Send us an email at hello@thegreenline.to or a DM on social media.