Accessibility is a priority in the Municipal Election
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The City will offer online and in-person voting
options during the Advance Vote
The
City of Vaughan is committed to eliminating barriers for persons with
disabilities to ensure the upcoming Municipal Election is accessible to all
voters. As part of that commitment, eligible voters can cast their vote online during the Advance Vote from Thursday, Oct. 6 until Thursday,
Oct. 20.
The online voting
platform meets Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) standards and
uses a range of accessibility software to support auditory and visual needs. Online
voting is secure, accessible and convenient.
Those who prefer to
vote in-person during the Advance Vote can do so at a kiosk in a Voter
Assistance Centre or a Vaughan Public Libraries location – staff will be on-hand to assist. On
Voting Day, Monday, Oct. 24, all polling stations will be accessible as well.
Here are answers to
questions you might have about the process:
How can I vote online?
To vote online during
the Advance Vote, visit vaughan.ca/elections and click on the “Vote”
button. To access the online voting platform, you must be on the Voters’ List.
If you are, you will receive a Voter Information Letter in the mail by the end
of September. This letter will include your credentials and a secure PIN that allows
you to access the Advance Vote platform. You will use this PIN to log into the
platform and each step will be outlined as you move through the tool.
If you registered to vote after Wednesday, Sept.
7, you will not receive your Voter Information Letter in the mail and must pick one up
from Vaughan City Hall at 2141 Major Mackenzie Dr. or a Voter
Assistance Centre.
I don’t have access to a device or internet
connection to vote online. Can I still vote?
Yes. There are several ways to vote if you cannot
vote online. From Thursday, Oct. 6 until Thursday, Oct. 20, you can vote
in-person at a kiosk in a Voter
Assistance Centre or a Vaughan Public Libraries location. If you require assistance with online voting,
please go to a Voter
Assistance Centre where a trained
election official will be on-hand to help you.
The other option is to vote at a polling station
on Voting Day, which is Monday, Oct. 24. All voting locations in Vaughan are
accessible. Entrances are close to parking lots and are marked with the
universal access symbol.
How much time do I have to vote online?
The online voting platform automatically restarts
every 20 minutes for security purposes. If you require more than 20 minutes to
complete your vote, you will need to vote at a Voter
Assistance Centre or a Vaughan Public Libraries location.
I require auditory and visual assistance. Will my
needs be met if I would like to vote online during the Advance Vote?
Yes, the City’s online
voting platform meets the Accessibility for Ontarians with
Disabilities Act
standards and uses a range of accessibility software to support auditory and
visual needs. If you are voting in-person at a Voter
Assistance Centre, Vaughan Public Libraries location or a polling station
on Voting Day, there will be staff on-hand to assist you.
Can I register to vote
on someone’s behalf or elect someone to vote on my behalf?
Yes, but a voting proxy only applies on Voting
Day by paper ballot and tabulator. An elector may not be appointed as
a proxy for online voting during the Advance Vote.
On Voting Day, an eligible elector on the
Voters' List may appoint another eligible elector on the Voters' List to
act as a voting proxy to cast a vote in-person on their behalf by filling two
copies of this form. Applications
for a voting proxy must be submitted in person at the Office of
the City Clerk at Vaughan City Hall (2141 Major Mackenzie Dr.) Until Oct. 6,
the office will be open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., and from
Oct. 6 to Oct. 20 it will be open Monday to Friday between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. Identification
must be provided to confirm the identity of the applicant and the proxy.
Continue to visit vaughan.ca/elections for the most up to
date information on the online Advance Vote.
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