Welcome to the only morning briefing you’ll need to stay up-to-date with the Toronto election. For the next 13 days, we will post all the news, views, upcoming events and poll numbers you need to know. Plus, we’ve dug into the archives for great Star pictures of elections past, which will count down to what insiders call "E-Day" on Oct. 27.

John Tory and Olivia Chow will face off at a Canadian Club of Toronto debate at noon today. ( Tara Walton / Toronto Star )

From the trail: Your must-read campaign coverage for today As of today, there are 13 days left until the election. It’s crunch time for the candidates. Our Daniel Dale has this in-depth analysis of John Tory’s unprecedented plan to fund his SmartTrack.

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In other races to watch, candidates run unchallenged by an incumbent in Ward 5 Etobicoke-Lakeshore. Over the weekend, Ward 2 Etobicoke North candidate Munira Abukar had her election signs defaced with hateful graffiti.

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Alex Ballingall has the latest Election Ephemera on the sign war and snacking endorsements. Viewpoint: Columns and commentary about latest developments and hot topics In our Big Ideas series, Toronto’s past mayors talked about what it takes to get a big idea of any kind off the ground. Stump schedule: What’s happening in the campaign over the next 24 hours Today is the first day of advance polling, starting at 10 a.m. and closing Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. Anyone registered to vote can do so early at city hall or a designated location in their ward. Tory and Chow will face off at a Canadian Club of Toronto debate at noon. The candidates debate again at a Latin community debate at 7 p.m. in North York. Chow is giving a press conference at 10 a.m. to receive an endorsement from Green Party of Canada leader Elizabeth May. At 11 a.m., Tory is doing a photo opportunity as he votes in the advance polls at city hall. He is also holding a competing media event to announce the endorsement of former Green Party of Canada leader Jim Harris. Poll tracker Here is who is leading the latest polls. Ballots from the past

( Rick Eglinton )

Mel Lastman laughed as an electoral officer asked for his I.D. at a polling station on election day in 2000. He asked if his driver’s licence would suffice, the Star’s Rick Eglinton reported. He snapped this photo of the moment.

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