How to vote in Ontario

by Apathy is Boring — September 14, 2007

How to Vote in Ontario

First off, you must be registered to vote in Ontario. You’ll know if you are listed as an elector when something called a notice of entry is sent to you by mail. Make sure that you are listed and that everyone that is eligible to vote and resides at your place of residence is also listed. It is also important that your must current address be listed and that all the names are spelled correctly. This notice is mailed to all registered voters with information on where and when to vote. If you don’t receive one, you may not be listed on the Ontario Permanent Register of Electors. To find out if you’re listed, check here or call Elections Ontario at 1-888-668-8683.

So what if you’re not listed as an elector?

If you have moved recently, have turned 18 since the last election, or are a new Canadian citizen you may not be listed on the register.

You can add your name to the Permanent Register of Electors by showing proof of identity and residence at your electoral district returning office (find your office by entering you postal code here or at any advance poll location. You will receive a Certificate to Vote which can be exchanged for a ballot at the advance poll or at your regular poll location on election day. (Certificates to Vote are issued up to 8:00 p.m. EST and CST the day before election day.)

Adding Your Name to the Voters List at the Poll

If your name is not on the voters list, you can have your name added when you go to your polling place to vote on election day. You will need to make a statutory declaration as to your identity and eligibility to vote. You will also be required to complete an application form and provide proof of identity (see the newest acceptable forms of identification here) and residence.

Not done yet...

In addition to being listed as an elector, you ALSO have to satisfy the following conditions to vote:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be a Canadian Citizen
• Be a resident of an electoral district in Ontario

If for any reason you will be unable to cast your ballot in person on election day or at an advance poll, proxy voting allows you to appoint another qualified elector in your electoral district to vote on your behalf.

If you wish to vote by proxy, you must fill out and sign an Application to Vote by Proxy and support appropriate identification. Your signature must also be witnessed by someone other than the person you are appointing. You may then give or send this to the person you are appointing as your proxy. Your proxy takes the signed application form to the electoral district Returning Office before the deadline and, upon approval, is issued a Certificate to Vote. This certificate along with proof of your identity is presented at either an advance poll or at the poll on election day and the ballot is cast on your behalf.

Voting Day! October 10 2007

What time are the polls open?

Election and Referendum Day:
October 10, 2007, 9:00 a.m to 9:00 p.m. EST and 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 pm CST
Returning Office Advance Polls:
September 22 to October 4, 2007, 9:00 a.m to 9:00 p.m. EST and CST
Area Advance Polls:
September 25 to October 4, 2007, 12:00 p.m to 8:00 p.m. EST and CST
Area Advance Polls in Satellite Offices:
September 25 to October 4, 2007, 12:00 p.m to 8:00 p.m. EST and CST

Your designated advance polling station will be listed on your note of entry. The address of your designated polling station for October 10 will be listed on your reminder card, which you will be receiving in the mail shortly. For electors needing assistance with voting, the following services are available:

Access and Accommodations at the Poll

• Wheelchair accessible returning offices and advance polls
• Assistance available from the deputy returning officer or from a friend
• Support from a sign language interpreter to communicate with poll officials – this must be pre-arranged through the Canadian Hearing Society’s Ontario Interpreting Services
• Option to have the ballot box brought to the door of the polling place for electors who are not able to enter
• Directional signage and clear-language posters at the poll
• Magnifiers for people with low vision
• Pens and pads for communication by people who are deaf with the poll officials
• Ballot templates with raised numbers, Braille and cutouts to assist voters in marking their ballots

What else do I need to bring with me?

Before going to your polling station make sure you can fulfill at least one of the following requirements to establish your identity:

• Provide 1 original piece of identification issued by a government or a government agency containing your photo, name and residential address, like your driver’s license.

                OR

• Provide 2 original pieces of identification authorized by the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada. Both pieces must contain your name and 1 must also contain your residential address, like your health card and your hydro bill.

For a complete list of acceptable identification, see the Elections Canada’s newly released identification rules here.

How to Vote (Finally!)

Once you’ve arrived at the polling station and established your identity or once an officer of the polling station has arrived, you can finally vote! All you’ve got to do is simply mark one of the circles on the ballot paper with the pencil given to you and slip it into the ballot box. And that’s it!

Sources:
Elections Ontario
Elections Canada
Canada Online