What to know
- Olivia Chow is No. 9 on Toronto’s mayoral ballot, while Braeden Chow is No. 8.
- The two candidates appear side-by-side because the mayoral candidates are listed alphabetically.
- Voters on social media have raised concerns about potentially selecting the wrong candidate, including one voter who said they accidentally marked Braeden Chow.
- Advance voting runs until Oct. 11, with Toronto’s municipal election taking place Oct. 26.
As Toronto’s advance voting gets underway, voters are being warned to take a closer look at their mayoral ballots, especially those who intend to vote for incumbent Mayor Olivia Chow.
That’s because there are two candidates with the last name Chow on the ballot, and their names appear side-by-side.
Advance voting for Toronto’s municipal election opened Oct. 6, with Olivia Chow listed at No. 9 and mayoral candidate Braeden Chow at No. 8. The candidates appear next to each other because the ballot is organized alphabetically.
The potential for confusion quickly caught voters’ attention, resulting in Chow’s campaign reminding supporters to carefully check the ballot before making their selection.
Chow posted a photo of the CN Tower with a nine beside the tip of the tower on Tuesday.
“Six upside down, it’s a nine now,” Chow said, reciting Toronto rapper Drake’s lyrics from the song “9.” “There are two Chows on the ballot. I’m number 9. Tell your friends, tell your cousin. Tell your aunties and uncles.”
Both Chows are among the 52 candidates running for mayor. However, 53 names will appear on the ballot after Chris Alexander dropped out of the race shortly before advance voting began Tuesday.
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Braeden registered to run for mayor on May 21, but little is known about his campaign or platform. An Instagram account connected to the candidate has since been deactivated, while his X and Threads accounts do not appear to be regularly updated.
Torontonians already doing a double take at ballots
The ballot has also become a topic of discussion online, with users raising concerns about the potential for voters to accidentally select the wrong Chow.
In a now widely shared Reddit post, a user who said they are visually impaired described accidentally marking their ballot for Braeden before realizing the mistake and requesting a new ballot.
“I accidentally voted for Braeden the first time (the bubble is next to ‘Chow’ with the first name in a smaller font to the left) and needed to ask for a new ballot,” the user wrote.
The user also posted a photo of the ballot showing Braeden marked off, prompting other voters to share their own reactions.
“I got my ballot a few weeks ago because I voted by mail. Saw the name and instantly thought that it’s going to cause trouble,” one user wrote.
Another voter said the names initially caught them off guard but they took the time to carefully review the ballot before submitting it.
“I voted today and it caught me off guard at first. Thankfully I took the time to scan my pen over to the left and read each name. And then I looked over my card to ensure all my votes were correct. Slow down, take your time, and check it over,” the user wrote.
Others, however, pointed out that while the ballot layout may be confusing, voters ultimately have a responsibility to carefully review their choices before submitting their ballots.
Advance voting continues until Oct. 11, with election day set for Oct. 26. Voters can find a full list of candidates on the City of Toronto’s website.
