Toronto Election Workers Face Scrutiny Over Chow Ballot Warnings

Toronto's closely contested mayoral election has drawn scrutiny over how election workers handle ballots featuring two candidates named Chow, after voters reported receiving warnings about the similar surnames during advance voting at Rosedale United Church. City officials confirmed on Oct. 12 that workers are expected to remain neutral and are not instructed to flag candidates with similar names.

The controversy centers on incumbent Mayor Olivia Chow, listed ninth on the ballot, and Braeden Chow, who appears immediately before her at number eight. Political scientists told The Globe and Mail that even a relatively small number of misplaced votes could matter in a race that has tightened against challenger Brad Bradford.

Two voters who cast ballots at the Rosedale United Church advance polling location over the weekend told the Toronto Sun that separate election workers cautioned them about candidates with similar names. One voter recalled being told, "Pay special attention when voting as some names are similar," while another said the worker advised checking carefully to ensure the correct candidate was selected.

A polling-place supervisor defended the warnings when questioned by a voter, according to an audio recording provided to the Toronto Sun.

"It is in the case where we have two candidates that have such a similar name that are on the ballot," the polling-place supervisor said. "That is the messaging that we have."

The supervisor said they would confirm the practice with Election Central. Toronto officials subsequently clarified that ballot officers are trained to conduct voting impartially and should not provide information about candidates with similar surnames.

Olivia Chow raised concerns about possible ballot confusion after voting during the advance polling period, which opened on Tuesday, Oct. 6, according to CityNews Toronto. She said she had nearly selected the other candidate because his name appeared immediately above hers.

"I just noticed there is two Chows on the ballot and there is one before me," Olivia Chow said after casting her vote.

By Thursday, Oct. 8, the mayor was warning that the ballot layout could pose particular challenges for voters who do not speak English as their first language. Her campaign subsequently circulated social media messages and an email urging voters to verify the full name of their preferred candidate before submitting their ballots.

"With two Chows appearing on the ballot, the Olivia Chow campaign is reminding Toronto voters to take a moment to check the full name of their selected candidate before submitting their ballot," the campaign email stated.

The Globe and Mail reported on Oct. 10 that a Mainstreet Research poll released Friday placed Olivia Chow 2.9 percentage points ahead of Brad Bradford among decided and leaning voters. The survey included 1,000 respondents, had a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points 19 times out of 20, and was conducted Oct. 6 and 7, after former federal candidate Chris Alexander withdrew from the mayoral race.

York University political science professor Dennis Pilon said the potential consequences depend on the final margin between the leading candidates.

"It's a serious issue," Dennis Pilon said. "If the numbers even up, then suddenly a candidate that surprisingly gets a few thousand votes could be decisive."

Charles Tessier, a citizen behavior expert at Quebec-based public affairs firm TACT who researches ballot order, told The Globe and Mail that minor candidates can gain as much as two-tenths of a percentage point when listed beside a major candidate.

"The decision in Toronto is more prone to that kind of mistake because there are so many candidates," Charles Tessier said. "If the election is decided by a few votes, it could have an effect."

Toronto has 53 mayoral candidates in the current election, compared with 102 in 2023, according to The Globe and Mail. The city's rules require prospective mayoral candidates to obtain endorsements from 25 people and pay a $200 filing fee.

Braeden Chow told The Globe and Mail that nobody had recruited him to enter the race. He also said he considered himself Olivia Chow's second cousin, a claim her campaign disputed.

"We can confirm that Braeden Chow is not related to Olivia Chow," campaign spokesman Zeus Eden said in a statement to The Globe and Mail. "We have no idea where he comes from. Our campaign is encouraging all voters to look to Olivia Chow, who is number 9 on the ballot."

Braeden Chow said he would feel bad if his candidacy affected the outcome, while maintaining that he hoped Olivia Chow would win. He has attracted little measurable support in polling, according to The Globe and Mail.

Toronto's mayoral election is scheduled for Oct. 26. The reports of warnings at advance polling stations have raised questions about whether voters received consistent, impartial guidance while choosing among the candidates.