Elections Ontario Is Testing a New Poll Model On Election Day In the Whitby-Oshawa By-election

TORONTO, Feb. 9, 2016 /CNW/ - Elections Ontario is testing a new poll model on Election Day in 42 voting locations in the Whitby-Oshawa provincial By-election. This new polling model addresses challenges in the current model; which, Chief Electoral Officer Greg Essensa has called "unsustainable in the long-term". The new poll model includes a new staffing model and election technologies. These changes will help Elections Ontario maintain efficiency and protect the integrity of the voting process while reducing staffing needs.

"On Election Day, in a General Election, we need to find approximately 80,000 people to work in the polls," says Essensa. "It has become increasingly difficult to recruit people to work. If General Elections are to continue to function effectively and to produce the best possible experience for voters, we will have to explore, with great caution and prudence, technologies that will enable us to administer elections with fewer workers."

Each of the 42 participating voting locations are designated multiple polls. The new poll model allows voters to receive their ballot from any available election official. Election officials will use an electronic Poll Book to process voters before providing them with their ballot. Voters will then cast their ballot using vote tabulators which feature assistive voting technologies that enable electors to vote independently.

Following the By-election, Elections Ontario will table a report to the Legislative Assembly evaluating the findings and making recommendations for the 2018 General Election.

The Whitby-Oshawa By-election takes place on February 11, 2016.

For more information visit elections.on.ca or call 1-888-668-8683 (TTY: 1-888-292-2312).

Elections Ontario is the non-partisan agency responsible for administering provincial elections, by-elections and referenda.

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SOURCE Elections Ontario

For media inquiries: Elections Ontario Media Relations, 416.212.6186 / 1.866.252.2152, [email protected]