Notice anything different this morning Toronto?

At 12:01 a.m. Monday, the race for campaign sign space began. By the time you read this, the city’s street corners, sidewalks and shop windows will likely be plastered in these annoying but necessary eyesores.

A recent poll showed 25 per cent of Torontonians aren’t following the municipal election.

That’s about to change, said Councillor Howard Moscoe, who runs an election sign company.

“Signs are part of the aura of an election campaign. They’re completely unimportant and totally important. They get people thinking and reading about the election,” he said. “You won’t be able to avoid knowing there’s an election going on.”

Neighbouring cities, such as Mississauga and Vaughan, have been littered with campaign signs since 2:01 pm on Sept. 10. Municipalities are able to set their own signage bylaws.

Compared to its neighbours, Toronto has strict rules about where candidates can post their propaganda on public space. Signs are not allowed on highways, such as the Gardiner Expressway or Don Valley Parkway, or within 15 metres of an intersection.

They also can’t be attached to trees, illuminated and candidates can be fined for defacing or damaging an opponent’s signage.

Meanwhile, advance voting is open this week in Toronto, Vaughan, Oakville, and Oshawa. Residents in Burlington can vote early on Tuesday and one day next week.

Early voting opens next week in Mississauga, Pickering and Brampton. Check your local elections website for specific date, time and location.

In Toronto, the deadline for sign removal is end of day Oct. 28. So brace yourselves Toronto.

It’s going to be a cluttered three weeks.