Additional Voting Options & Accommodations

Additional or alternative voting options and services available for voters during an election year are regularly evolving. Please check back for any updates. You can find out more by reviewing the Election Accessibility Plan.

Eligible voters will be able to choose an alternative to in-person voting this election through Mail-In Voting.

If you are unable to vote for any reason, on any of the available voting days, you may appoint another eligible elector to vote on your behalf.

If you are physically unable to go inside the voting place, you can request to have your ballot brought to your vehicle, outside of the building or to another area within the voting place. A friend or support person will need to go inside the voting place to let the election officials know that you require curbside voting.

Where a voting place is situated in a multi-residential building, the boundaries do not include any residences on the property.

The Voter Assist Terminal (VAT) is a ballot-marking device that allows voters with disabilities and other special needs to mark their ballot privately and independently. The features include a touch screen, an audio component, a Braille key pad, a Sip/Puff tube device, a Rocker Paddle/Foot Switch and zoom features to adjust font sizes and colour contrast.

Voter Assist Terminal Audio Only

If an elector requires the use of a Voter Assist Terminal (VAT) and one is not located at their designated voting place on Election Day, the voter can request to have their ballot transferred to the VAT voting place in their ward.

A ballot transfer can also be requested in circumstances where a voter might encounter a barrier at their designated voting place.

If you require assistance at the voting place you may bring a friend along to help or you may ask an election official for assistance.

Your friend may go behind the voting screen with you however they must make an oral declaration first.

 

There are several ways to arrive at a voting place:

If you require assistance in another language:

  • In October of an election year, “Key Election Information” is available on our website in English and additional languages.
  • If you require assistance in a language that is not available, please call 311 to request over-the-phone interpretation in more than 180 languages.
  • Voting place staff will be wearing tags that show the different languages they speak.
  • You may ask anyone who is not a candidate or a scrutineer to act as an interpreter for you. They must complete an oral declaration that they will faithfully translate any communication between you and the election officials. Interpreters may not go behind the voting screen with you or assist you in voting.
  • Translated “How to Vote booklets” are available in the voting place to assist with declarations, required identification, how to mark your ballot and what to expect.

Voting hours on election day are from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

You are entitled to three hours in which to vote on voting day. This does not mean you can take three hours off work. It means you’re allowed to be absent to give yourself three hours of voting time.

Typically this is at the start or end of your working hours. For example, if your working hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., you are entitled to leave one hour early so that you would have from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. to vote.

Your employer may decide when it would be most convenient for you to be absent in order to vote. For example, if you work from noon to 6 p.m. your employer may decide that you should come in at 1 p.m., rather than leave work at 5 p.m.

 

A dedicated telephone line and email is available for you to address any questions, comments or concerns you may have throughout the election:

Email: accessibleelections@toronto.ca

Phone: 416-338-1111 press 6

TTY: 416-338-0889