Elections Ontario says you will be able to vote in the Ontario election even if you don’t receive your voter information card in the mail by voting day.
The 44th general election is set for Thursday, with polling stations open between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.
While voter information cards were emailed through Canada Post between Feb. 17 and 22, some people have said they have not received their card to inform them where to vote on election day.
“If you do not receive a voter information card, you can still vote, but your name may not be on the voters list,” Elections Ontario says on its website. “Bring one piece of accepted ID showing your name and current home address.”
You can find information on your polling station on the Elections Ontario website. The website will show information for voting on Thursday, including the location of your assigned voting location, the hours you can vote and the candidates in your electoral district.
Canada Post is responsible for processing and delivering election mail, including the voter information cards and vote by mail kits. The Crown corporation says it will deliver approximately 10.5 million election voter information cards to eligible voters and six million copies of the Ontario Voting Guide.
“When we receive the mailings from our printer, the mailings are immediately inducted to be sent out to eligible voters,” Canada Post told CTV News Ottawa on Friday. “We’ve been working closely with Elections Ontario and their printer to do everything possible to get voter information cards and mail-in ballots in the hands of Ontario voters. A cross-functional and dedicated Canada Post team has also been assembled to support the Election and are closely monitoring the transportation and processing of these mailings.”
Canada Post says the recent winter storms have slowed down mail delivery across Ontario.
“We have been closely monitoring the election mail pieces and can confirm that there have been no issues,” Canada Post said.
Elections Ontario says 678,789 voters cast their ballot during three days of advance voting last week. In 2022, 1,066,545 people cast ballots during 10 days of advance polls.
CTV News Ottawa looks at what you need to know to vote in the Ontario election:
When can I vote?
Election Day is Thursday, Feb. 27. You can vote at your assigned voting location from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Elections Ontario says you can also vote in your person at your local election office from the day after an election in your electoral district has been called until 6 p.m. the day before election day (Wednesday).
Who is eligible to vote?
To vote in the Ontario election, you must be:
- 18 years of age or older;
- A Canadian citizen; and
- A resident of Ontario
What do you need to vote?
Elections Ontario says to vote in the Ontario election, bring your voter information card and one piece of ID showing your name to the voting location.
To vote:
- You must provide ID to receive a ballot. You may use an electronic copy of your ID, which may be printed or displayed on a mobile device.
- Photo ID is not required. If you choose to show photo ID, your appearance does not need to match the photo.
- Elections Ontario says you do not need to provide any information about your sex or gender expression.
International ID or permanent resident cards will not be accepted as ID.
A piece of ID may be:
A government-issued ID includes: a birth certificate, marriage certificate, Ontario health card, Canadian passport, Certificate of Canadian Citizenship, Citizenship Card, Certificate of Indian Status, Certification of Naturalization, firearms licence, Old Age Security identification card, or a birth certificate from a Canadian province or territory.
Other pieces of ID accepted include a blood donor card, credit/debit card, diplomatic or special passport, hospital records, a student card or a union card/professional licence.
Can I still vote if I don’t receive my voter information card?
Yes, you can still vote if you don’t receive your voter information card.
Elections Ontario says you will need to bring a piece of ID with your name and current home address on it to vote.
Where do I vote?
If you haven’t received your voter information card, you can find your voting location on the Elections Ontario website. The website will show your voting location on Election Day, and the advance poll locations.
Voting if you’re a student
Elections Ontario says students can vote in the electoral district of your permanent home address or in the electoral district for your address while attending school.
You will need to show ID to vote. On-campus voting is only for students living on campus.
