Services for electors who require assistance at the polls

TORONTO, Feb. 17 /CNW/ - Accommodating measures for electors with special needs are in place for the March 4 by-elections in the Electoral Districts of Ottawa West-Nepean and Leeds - Grenville.

"Equal access to the electoral process is the right of all electors in Ontario," said Greg Essensa, Ontario's Chief Electoral Officer. "Information and services are one way Elections Ontario works to ensure Ontarians' access to the vote is barrier-free."

Voter information is available in a number of alternative formats including Braille, large print and audio to reach electors with special needs.

The Returning Offices in Ottawa West - Nepean and Leeds - Grenville and advance polls are wheelchair accessible. Most Election Day voting locations are also wheelchair accessible. If the voting location is accessible, it will be indicated on the elector's Notice of Registration card and on Elections Ontario's website www.elections.on.ca.

On Election Day, service animals and companions can accompany electors with special needs to the poll. Additionally, all voting locations will have magnifiers and ballot templates with raised numbers, Braille and cutouts to assist voters with low vision in marking their ballots.

Pens and pads will be provided to aid communication in the poll by people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Electors may also request a sign language interpreter to help communicate with poll officials. This must be pre-arranged through the Canadian Hearing Society's Ontario Interpreting Services.

Electors who are unable to vote in person at an advance poll or on Election Day can appoint a qualified elector to vote on their behalf by proxy. To learn more about voting by proxy, visit www.elections.on.ca.

For more information on Elections Ontario's outreach program, visit www.elections.on.ca or call the local returning office. For TTY line services call at 1-888-292-2312.

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

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For further information: or to be added to Elections Ontario's election night results e-mail list contact: Elections Ontario Media Relations, [phone]/1-866-252-2152, [email protected]