Ontario election advance voting begins: Here’s how you can cast your ballot
Posted May 19, 2022 6:23 am.
Last Updated May 19, 2022 1:18 pm.
With just two weeks left in the 2022 Ontario election campaign, advance has begun across the province.
Starting on May 19 and running straight through to May 28, residents in Ontario’s 124 ridings will be able to vote at advance poll station locations between the hours of 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.
The general election in Ontario is on June 2 and voting that day is between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.
However, there are other ways you’ll be able to cast your ballot.
Voting will take place daily until 6 p.m. on June 1 at the returning office in each riding.
If you want to vote by mail, you have until 6 p.m. on May 27.
Click here to find out about other ways to vote if there are other circumstances.
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Ontario election debate recap and a link to the full debate video.
CityNews will have complete coverage of the Ontario election results beginning at 9 p.m. EST. You can watch it on the free streaming service CityNews 24/7.
What ID is needed to cast a ballot?
“Voters need to bring one piece of ID with their name and their address, and if they do receive a voter information card they can bring that as well and that just makes the process really simple when they get to the voting location,” Elections Ontario spokesperson Eleni Armenakis told CityNews in an interview in early May.
Click here for a list of acceptable identification.
What additional supports are available to help cast a ballot?
Armenakis said there are instructions on how to vote in 38 different languages if needed.
She also said braille ballot templates and ballot magnifiers will be on hand at each polling location.
If someone is restricted to their home or a hospital because of a disability or medical condition, or they require extra assistance, Armenakis said arrangements can be made by calling your local returning office (found through the voter information service).
What is new for voting in 2022 compared to past elections?
Elections Ontario staff have moved some processes onto digital platforms.
For instance, they launched an Elections Ontario app (on Apple Store or Google Play) that allows voters to find out where they can vote, download their information card to use in conjunction with ID in order to vote, check to see if they’re on the voters list along with the ability to make changes and access the application to vote by mail.
For someone who doesn’t want to download the app, many of its functions are on the Elections Ontario website.
What COVID-19 public health precautions will be in effect for voting?
Armenakis said Elections Ontario staff have been working with the province’s chief medical officer of health to incorporate measures at polling locations.
“Voters will see a lot of what they’re already used to in terms of physical distancing, hand sanitizer, disinfecting high-touch surfaces and that sort of thing,” she said.
What about working at poll locations?
Elections Ontario is still in the process of hiring workers to staff all of the poll locations across the province.
Armenakis said there are around 55,000 positions and that people can work one or more Ontario election voting days.
Click here to access the application website.
