TORONTO, Jan. 31, 2019 /CNW/ - Elections Ontario took home six awards at this year's International Electoral Awards Ceremony as part of the 17th International Electoral Affairs Symposium, held in Accra, Ghana, from January 27 to 30, 2019.
During the four-day symposium, which brought together election management bodies (EMBs) from over 50 countries, Ontario's Chief Electoral Officer, Greg Essensa, was invited to participate in three panel discussions on the role of elections in promoting democracy, engaging the youth electorate and attracting first-time voters, and building trust and confidence in EMBs ahead of elections.
The International Centre for Parliamentary Studies and the International Centre for Electoral Psychology established the International Electoral Awards to recognize the work of electoral stakeholders and to acknowledge their significant contribution to the democratic process.
International Electoral Awards
- The Electoral Commissioner of the Year Award and Election Management Award were presented to Ontario's Chief Electoral Officer, Greg Essensa, to honour election officials who have overcome challenges to successfully run secure and transparent elections.
- The Electoral Commission of the Year Award recognizes efforts taken to identify best practice and evidence-based policy to support and improve their work.
- The Minority Participation Award rewards electoral management boards and electoral officials for making extensive efforts to guarantee, strengthen and execute the rights of minorities to cast their vote. Elections Ontario has won this award for the second consecutive year.
- The First Time Voter Award is in recognition of Elections Ontario's introduction of "Vote PopUp" to demystify voting for first-time voters. This was a joint initiative with Ryerson University's Democratic Engagement Exchange.
- The Electoral Ergonomy Award celebrates outstanding initiatives to optimize voting procedures for the specific characteristics of the electorate.
Quote
"In 2018, we took significant steps towards modernizing elections in Ontario to better serve electors, while preserving the integrity of the vote. These awards are a reflection of Elections Ontario's ongoing commitment to putting the needs of electors first. It's an honour to have our achievements—and the collaborative efforts of our partners—recognized by the international community."
– Greg Essensa, Chief Electoral Officer of Ontario
Elections Ontario is the non-partisan agency responsible for administering provincial elections, by-elections and referenda. For more information, visit elections.on.ca or call 1-888-668-8683 (TTY: 1-888-292-2312).
Aussi disponible en français
SOURCE Elections Ontario
Elections Ontario Media Relations, 1-866-252-2152, [email protected]
Share this article