Lesson 7: The Voting Process

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Lesson 7 The Voting Process
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Who is eligible to vote?

• To be eligible to vote in Ontario provincial
  elections, you must
• Be a Canadian citizen,
• Be at least 18 years of age on election day,
• Reside in an electoral district in Ontario.

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What do I need in order to vote?

• If you are qualified to vote and your name is on
  the voters list, you will be mailed a Notice of
  Registration card that has information on where
  and when you can vote on election day or in
  advance polls.
• If you dont have a Notice of Registration card,
  you need to bring identification that proves your
  name and address.

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Where do I vote?

• Each electoral district is divided into defined
  geographic areas.
• Eligible voters residing within each area vote at
  the voting location designated for their area.

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What is the process for voting?

1. Once you confirm your eligibility, you are given
   a ballot that has the poll officials initials on
   the back.
2. Go behind a voting screen to mark your ballot.
   Choose only one candidate on the ballot.
3. Hand your folded ballot back to the poll official
   to check for the initials.
4. Place your folded ballot in the ballot box.

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How do I mark my ballot?

• A ballot lists the names of the candidates
  running in your electoral district and the
  political party they belong to.
• Voting is done by secret ballot. No one except
  the voter knows the choice that was made.
• The voter must clearly mark the ballot for only
  one candidate (e.g., checkmark, x, shading in)
  for it to be accepted.

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Rejected Ballots

• A rejected ballot is a ballot that cannot be
  counted due to a deliberate or accidental
  unrecognizable choice.
• For example, your ballot is rejected if you try
  to vote for more than one candidate.

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Other Types of Ballots

• A voter may also choose to use their vote to
  express their dissatisfaction with the options
  given. After receiving their ballot, the voter
  returns it to the polling official without making
  a mark. This is called a declined ballot.
• A cancelled ballot is a ballot that was
  mistakenly marked or torn and exchanged for a new
  ballot.
• An unmarked ballot is a ballot deposited in the
  ballot box that is unmarked by the voter on the
  front or back.

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What are Advance Polls?

• Electors who are away, too busy or unable to vote
  on election day have the option of participating
  in Advance Polls.
• Advance Polls are held prior to election day.

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Final Thoughts

• How will you prepare to vote?
• How do you know if you are ready to vote?
• How can you encourage eligible voters that you
  know to cast their ballot?