TORONTO, April 18, 2019 /CNW/ - Elections Ontario today released its 2018 general election report, Modernizing Ontario's Electoral Process. In the report, the Chief Electoral Officer makes 13 recommendations for legislative change to further enhance elections in Ontario.

Key recommendations include creating a single address authority, taking responsibility for municipal voters lists, and advancing a number of legislative revisions to better ensure the integrity of provincial elections.

The 2018 general election was the first time technology had been used in polls across Ontario for a provincial election. Over 50% of voting locations used electronic poll books (e-Poll books) and vote tabulators to serve 90% of Ontario's voters on election day.

Election officials used e-Poll books to quickly strike names off the voters list, while vote tabulators electronically counted ballots—delivering results within 15 minutes of the close of polls.

Recommendations

• Establish a single address authority to standardize addressing across Ontario and improve services that rely on address information.
  
  
• Make Elections Ontario responsible for municipal voters lists to increase consistency and accuracy between voters lists.
  
  
• Extend the election calendar to ensure the successful delivery of provincial elections.
  
  
• Allow Elections Ontario to levy administrative penalties to address minor infractions of the Election Act and Election Finances Act.
  
  
• Provide a regular, scheduled review of electoral district boundaries to maintain effective representation for Ontario's growing population.
  
  
• Establish standards for voting technology to preserve the integrity of the vote for Ontario elections.
  
  
• Change election day to a day when school is not in session to provide easier access to schools as voting locations, while enhancing the safety and security of school children.
  
  
• Set a threshold for audit of financial statements from political entities to reduce the subsidies paid to auditors by Elections Ontario.
  
  
• Subject Ontario's political parties to privacy laws to protect the personal information of voters.
  
  
• Establish 10 days of rotating advance voting to support a growing interest in alternative voting options.
  
  
• Make administrative and technical adjustments to the Election Act and Election Finances Act to streamline processes and meet changing needs.

Quote

"I am pleased to share this report and the journey that led to the introduction of technology in the polls. I have made a number of recommendations to build upon this success and to continue improving elections for voters in this province."

– Greg Essensa, Chief Electoral Officer of Ontario

Elections Ontario is the non-partisan agency responsible for administering provincial elections, by-elections and referenda. For more information, visit elections.on.ca or call 1-888-668-8683 (TTY: 1-888-292-2312).

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SOURCE Elections Ontario

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