News provided by Elections Ontario
Dec 05, 2017
Public consultation will run online from December 5 to January 5, 2018
TORONTO, Dec. 5, 2017 /CNW/ – Today marks the first day of a month-long public consultation process on the accessibility of proposed voting locations for the 2018 General Election.
Until January 5, 2018, members of the public can visit http://www.elections.on.ca to view the proposed voting locations and provide feedback online about the accessibility of these sites.
Elections Ontario’s Accessibility Program puts accessibility at the forefront of the voting process. In Ontario, our election laws require all voting locations be accessible. To meet this requirement, Elections Ontario established Site Accessibility Standards in consultation with accessibility experts and members of the public. These Standards provide Returning Officers with fixed criteria for assessing and selecting accessible voting locations.
Following the public consultation, Elections Ontario will review the feedback and work to ensure all sites meet Ontario voters’ expectations.
Quick Facts
Under May 2010 amendments to the Election Act, Elections Ontario must ensure that voting locations are accessible to voters with disabilities.
Elections Ontario’s Multi-Year Accessibility Plan 2017-2021 outlines a strategy for how it will remove and prevent barriers at the polls.
Quote
“The public consultation process is an important part of the preparation for the upcoming Provincial Election,” said Greg Essensa, Chief Electoral Officer of Ontario. “We want to remove barriers that may prevent people from voting and make the electoral process as easy and convenient as possible.”
Elections Ontario is the non-partisan agency responsible for administering provincial elections, by-elections and referenda. For more information, visit http://www.elections.on.ca or call 1-888-668-8683 TTY: 1-888-292-2312.
For further information: Elections Ontario Media Relations, 1-866-252-2152, media@elections.on.ca