More Days More Ways

29 Days to Vote

Ontario now offers 29 days to vote. To vote in person at your returning office or satellite office on any of the 28 days before election day, download the Special Ballot Application form from our website or contact us to have one sent to you. If you're away from home, you can vote by mail, as long as we receive your ballot by 6:00 PM ET on election day. Applications can be submitted anytime until 6 days before election day.

Advance polls are open for 10 days, starting 15 days before election day. The dates, times and locations of advance polls are provided on the Notice of Registration Card (NRC) and during the election they'll also be posted on our website and in your newspaper.

September - October 2011

The image above displays the following information:

• 29 days to vote in a general election (Sept 8-Oct 6)
• 28 days to vote in person with a Special ballot at your returning office (Sept 8-Oct 5)
• 23 days to apply for a Special ballot to vote by mail (Sept 8-Sept 30)
• 15 days to vote with assistive voting technology (Sept 21-Oct 5)
• 10 days to vote at advance polls (Sept 21-Sept 30)
• 12 hours to vote on election day (Oct 6)

Assistive Voting Technology

Assistive voting technology will be available in each returning office and satellite office beginning 15 days before election day until the day before election day. Options include the audio tactile interface (ATI), paddles and a sip & puff device. Audio instructions are available for each choice.

Assistive Devices

Election day polls and advance polls are equipped with magnifiers, easy-grip pencils and ballot templates with Braille numbering and cut-outs.

Personal Assistance

If you need help at the poll, you can bring a friend or support person, or ask a poll official for help. If you bring someone, you will both be asked to make declarations affirming that assistance is needed and that your vote will be kept secret.

If you require a Sign Language Interpreter, please contact the Canadian Hearing Society Ontario Interpreting Service.

The ballot box may be moved by the election officials to facilitate voting by an elderly person or a person with a disability. If you require this assistance, the official will make sure that your privacy is protected while you mark your ballot.

A voter with a service animal is permitted to have the animal with him or her while accessing election services or voting, unless excluded by law.

Alternative Formats

General information about the election and the voting process is available from Elections Ontario in many formats, including print, large print, audio file, Braille and dxb (drawing exchange binary) and brf (Braille) electronic files.

Alternative Location

If you have a disability that would make voting at another location more convenient, up to and including the day before election day, you can apply at your local returning office to have your name included in the Voters List for that alternative voting location. You'll then be provided with a Certificate to Vote that must be presented to the election officials at the alternative location.

Special Ballots: Vote by Mail or In Person

You can vote in person at your returning office or satellite office on any of the 28 days before election day using a Special ballot.

If you choose to vote by mail, you can apply for a Special Ballot Kit. The vote by mail application is available once the election is called and can be submitted anytime until 6 days before election day.

To use a Special ballot, download the Special Ballot Application form from our website or contact us to have one sent to you.

Special Ballots: Home Visits

If you need help filling out your application and ballot and can't make it to the poll in person, you can request a home visit where election officials will bring the ballot to you. This option is available to individuals who:

• Find it impossible or unreasonably difficult to personally go to the returning office, and
• Need assistance with making an application to vote by Special ballot, because of a disability or because they are unable to read or write

Customer Service

Our election officials are certified in accessible customer service and are trained to accommodate people with a wide variety of needs. Most voting locations have an Information Assistant who can help with any questions you may have.

Mobile Polls

Mobile poll visits will be scheduled for many long-term care facilities and hospitals. Scheduled dates and times will be posted at these facilities.

University and College Students

If you're living away from your permanent residence to attend school, you can choose to vote in your home electoral district or in the electoral district that you're living in to attend school. You'll need to provide proof of identity and residence in order to vote.

If you're attending school outside of Ontario, you can vote by mail. Just download the Special Ballot Application from our website or contact us to have one sent to you.

Feedback

Tell us how we can help make your voting experience even easier. After you vote, fill out a Customer Service Feedback form at your voting location or your returning office.

How to learn more:

• Toll Free
• 1.888.ONT.VOTE (668.8683)
• TTY 1.888.292.2312
• Hours of operations:
• 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM Monday to Saturday
• 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM Sunday