Seven Days of Advance Polls Begin Tomorrow

TORONTO, Aug. 24, 2012 /CNW/ - Seven days of advance polls begin tomorrow and will run until August 31, 2012 at locations across the Electoral Districts of Kitchener - Waterloo and Vaughan. The dates, times and locations of advance polls are listed online at wemakevotingeasy.ca through an interactive "Where Do I Vote" tool as well as in the local newspapers. For the most up-to-date listing in your area, please visit wemakevotingeasy.ca or call 1.888.668.8683 (TTY: 1.888.292.2312).

Voters are reminded to take their Notice of Registration Card and identification with them when they go to vote. A full list of acceptable identification is listed on the Elections Ontario website. Nominations closed yesterday. Voters can find a complete list of nominated candidates in their electoral district at wemakevotingeasy.ca through our "Find Your Candidate" quick link.

Qualified voters who did not receive a Notice of Registration card can still vote. Elections Ontario customer service representatives are standing by to help voters find out where to vote and what they need to vote. Customer service representatives can be reached at 1-888-ONT-VOTE or at [email protected].

Voters can also use assistive voting technology to help them cast their ballot at their local returning office starting Sunday. Assistive voting technology allows voters to cast their ballot secretly and independently. It consists of a tabulator, which counts ballots cast, the printer, which prints the ballot once selection has been made, headphones to listen to the audio cues and controllers.

The assistive voting technology uses audio instructions and provides options which assist voters to cast their ballot.  These options include an audio tactile interface (large raised buttons with bright colours and Braille inscriptions), paddles or sip and puff technology (a device using air pressure by "sipping" (inhaling) or "puffing" (exhaling) into a straw). It will be available for 11 days, between August 26 and September 5.

"From advanced polls to assistive voting technology, there are many ways for voters to cast a ballot in by-elections in Kitchener - Waterloo and Vaughan," said Ontario's Chief Electoral Officer Greg Essensa. "Offering choices to voters is an important part of our commitment to Ontarians."

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

SOURCE: Elections Ontario

Elections Ontario Media Relations
416.212.6186 / 1.866.252.2152
[email protected]
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