THUNDER BAY – The province may still be in the midst of a pandemic, but Ontario’s chief electoral officer Greg Essensa says voters can expect a smoother and more accessible election in 2022.
Essensa made a pit stop in Thunder Bay last week, meeting with returning officers and several dozen other key staff in the region’s electoral offices in preparation for the June 2 provincial election.
Notably, Essensa said, those staff will oversee an expansion of advance voting, while voters will also have access to new digital tools.
The new Elections Ontario app allows voters to access a digital version of their voter identification card and find information they’re looking for, like maps to the nearest advance voting locations. It can also flag any changes to voting times, Essensa said.
The agency is hoping for wide uptake and plenty of feedback.
“It’s a pilot for us, it’s the first time we’re entering into that digital arena, so we’re really encouraging all Ontarians to try it out and see if it works for them,” said Essensa.
Elections Ontario has prepared for scenarios including a resurgence of COVID-19 leading up to election day, he noted.
“We’ve procured all the PPE possible,” he said. “We’re not 100 per cent sure how much we’re going to use of it, but we wanted to make sure we have the best, safest health measures in place to ensure all Ontarians, whether you’re coming to vote or you’re coming to work for us, are protected.”
Essensa also said Elections Ontario has been working proactively with First Nations across the province to address access concerns, after three Northwestern Ontario communities – Pikangikum, Cat Lake, and Poplar Hill First Nations – went without access to a polling station on the federal election day last year.
“We plan to be on every reserve in Ontario… and we’ve been in contact with all of the band chiefs,” he said. “We’re in the process now of securing all the leases on every single reserve in Ontario. That’s our goal and that’s our plan – we want to ensure the Indigenous have as much opportunity to vote and exercise their right to vote in their home community. We’re going to continue to strive to be on 100 per cent of [the reserves] in Ontario.”
Citing past issues with proper address information on reserves, Essensa said Elections Ontario has developed a new policy allowing chiefs to attest that an individual resides in their community.
The agency will also be looking for plenty of staff for election day, with Essensa saying recruiting “will be a challenge” based on the experience of Elections Canada last year. Employment opportunities are available online.
Essensa urges all eligible voters to visit Elections Ontario’s website to confirm the agency has the right address before voter information cards are sent out.
That will make things easy for everyone on June 2, he said.
“You come in with your voter information card and ID, and we can service you in literally a minute and a half – you can be in and out and exercise your right to vote.”
Residents can also vote at advance polls (expanding from five to 10 days this year), an Elections Ontario returning office before the election, by mail, and in some cases, by home visit. More information is available online.
