,,ELECTIONS ,,ONTARIO ,,OUTREACH ,,PROGRAM #BJJC3 ,ELECTORS WITH ,DISABILITIES ,MAY #BJJD ,PUBLISHED BY ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO ,TRANSLATED1 #BJJD1 ,BY ,COMPUTER ,IN #A ,VOLUME ,BRAILLE PAGES P#A-P#F AND #A-EI ,PRINT PAGES #A-C#BE P#A P#B ,,SPECIAL ,,SYMBOLS ,,USED ,,IN ,,THIS ,,VOLUME @& AMPERSAND _/ SLASH MARK P#C P#D ,CONTENTS ,SECTION ,PAGE ,INTRODUCTION """"""""""""""""""""""" #B ,SUMMARY OF ,CONTENTS """""""""""" A#B ,SECTION ,A--,REFERENCES WITHIN THE .,ELECTION .,ACT """""""""""" #C ,PROVISIONS FOR ,DISABLED ,ELECTORS IN THE ,ELECTION ,ACT """""""""""""""""""""""""" #D ,SPECIFIC ,REFERENCE """""""""""" #D ,ADDITIONAL ,REFERENCES """""""" B#D ,SECTION ,B--,STRATEGY @& ,IMPLEMENTATION IN #BJJC FOR ,ELECTORS WITH ,DISABILITIES """" #H ,OBJECTIVES """"""""""""""""""""""" #I ,STRATEGY """""""""""""""""""""""" A#I ,IMPLEMENTATION ,OVERVIEW """""""" #AJ ,CORE ,POLICIES AND ,PRACTICES """ #AA ,CUSTOMIZED ,APPROACHES """"""""" A#AB ,WHAT ,STAKEHOLDERS ,LEARNED """"" #AI ,SECTION ,C--,RETURNING ,OFFICERS ,ACCESSIBILITY ,REPORTING """""" #BJ ,SUMMARY OF ,REPORTS """"""""""""" #BA P#E ,FACILITIES """"""""""""""""""" B#BA ,PERSONNEL """""""""""""""""""" A#BB ,MATERIALS """""""""""""""""""" A#BB ,LOCAL ,OUTREACH """""""""""""" B#BB ,KEY ,ISSUES """""""""""""""""" C#BB ,SECTION ,D--,OUTREACH IN #BJJD TO ,ELECTORS WITH ,DISABILITIES """ #BC ,OUTREACH ,PROGRAM--#BJJD """""""" #BD ,STRATEGIC ,APPROACH """""""""" A#BD ,PRIORITY ,REVIEW """"""""""""" C#BD ,STAFFING ,STRATEGY """"""""""" A#BE P#F ,,ELECTIONS ,,ONTARIO #A-B ,,OUTREACH ,,PROGRAM #BJJC3 ,ELECTORS WITH ,DISABILITIES ,INTRODUCTION ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO IS THE NON- PARTISAN AGENCY OF THE ,LEGISLATIVE ,ASSEMBLY OF ,ONTARIO THAT1 UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE ,CHIEF ,ELECTION ,OFFICER AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE .,ELECTION .,ACT AND THE .,ELECTION .,FINANCES .,ACT1 ADMINISTERS PROVINCIAL ELECTIONS1 BY-ELECTIONS AND REFERENDA4 ,THIS DOCUMENT PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO'S OUTREACH ACTIVITIES IN RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS OF ELECTORS WITH DISABILITIES IN ANTICIPATION OF AND DURING THE #BJJC ,PROVINCIAL ,GENERAL ,ELECTION4 ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO EMBRACES THE SPIRIT OF THE ..,ONTARIANS ,WITH ,DISABILITIES ,ACT 7.,,ODA7 AS PART #A OF OUR VISION OF ELECTORAL PROCESS A#B EXCELLENCE4 ,WE HAVE PRODUCED THIS DOCUMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE INPUT OF STAKEHOLDERS1 ASSURE THEM THAT WE ARE LISTENING AND CONTINUING TO ADDRESS THEIR CONCERNS1 AND ENCOURAGE THEM1 AS WELL AS NEW PARTNERS1 TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO IN ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF ELECTORS WITH DISABILITIES4 ,SUMMARY OF ,CONTENTS ,SECTION ,A OF THIS DOCUMENT SUMMARIZES THE LEGISLATED PROVISIONS FOR ACCESS UNDER AMENDMENTS BY THE ..,ONTARIANS ,WITH ,DISABILITIES .,ACT TO THE .,ELECTION .,ACT 7,SECTION #EE.A74 ,AS PART OF ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO'S COMMITMENT TO ENSURE A FAIR AND ACCESSIBLE ELECTION PROCESS FOR ALL ,ONTARIANS1 WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND OUR ,OUTREACH ,PROGRAM TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF ELECTORS WITH DISABILITIES4 ,AN OVERVIEW OF THE MEASURES #B IMPLEMENTED FOR THE #BJJC B#B ELECTION1 AS WELL AS A SUMMARY OF CONSULTATION WITH STAKEHOLDER GROUPS AND THE KEY ISSUES AND VALUABLE RECOMMENDATIONS THEY HAVE RAISED1 IS COVERED IN ,SECTION ,B OF THIS DOCUMENT4 ,UNDER ,SECTION #EE.A OF THE .,ELECTION .,ACT1 ,ONTARIO'S #AJC ,RETURNING ,OFFICERS ARE REQUIRED TO PREPARE A REPORT ON MEASURES TAKEN IN THEIR RESPECTIVE ELECTORAL DISTRICTS TO PROVIDE ACCESSIBILITY FOR ELECTORS WITH DISABILITIES1 FOR SUBMISSION TO THE ,CHIEF ,ELECTION ,OFFICER4 ,SECTION ,C OF THIS DOCUMENT PROVIDES A SUMMARY OF THESE REPORTS1 WHICH THE ,CHIEF ,ELECTION ,OFFICER IS REQUIRED TO MAKE PUBLIC UNDER THE .,ELECTION .,ACT4 ,SECTION ,D BUILDS ON THE LEARNING ACHIEVED IN #BJJC1 AND PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO'S ,OUTREACH ,PROGRAM PLANNING FOR #BJJD4 #C ,SECTION ,A--,REFERENCES #C-D WITHIN THE .,ELECTION .,ACT ,PROVISIONS FOR ,DISABLED ,ELECTORS IN THE .,ELECTION .,ACT ,THE ,CHIEF ,ELECTION ,OFFICER IS APPOINTED BY THE ,LIEUTENANT ,GOVERNOR IN ,COUNCIL ON THE ADDRESS OF THE ,LEGISLATIVE ,ASSEMBLY AND1 AS AN OFFICER OF THE ,ASSEMBLY1 IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ADMINISTERING PROVINCIAL ELECTIONS UNDER THE ,ONTARIO .,ELECTION .,ACT 7AS WELL AS THE .,ELECTION .,FINANCES .,ACT74 ,SPECIFIC ,REFERENCE ,SECTION #EE OF THE .,ELECTION .,ACT1 ENTITLED 8,DISABLED ,ELECTORS01 SPECIFICALLY PROVIDES FOR ACCESS AND ASSISTANCE TO ELECTORS WITH DISABILITIES AS FOLLOWS3 ..#EE 7#A7 ,ON THE APPLICATION OF #D ANY ELECTOR WHO IS UNABLE TO A#D READ OR WHO IS DISABLED AND THEREBY PREVENTED FROM VOTING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE OTHER PROVISIONS OF THIS ,ACT1 THE DEPUTY RETURNING OFFICER MAY ASSIST THE ELECTOR TO THE VOTING SCREEN OR IF THE ELECTOR MAKING THE APPLICATION TAKES AN OATH AS TO HIS OR HER INABILITY TO VOTE WITHOUT ASSISTANCE1 SHALL THEREAFTER ASSIST THE ELECTOR AT THE VOTING SCREEN BY MARKING HIS OR HER BALLOT IN THE MANNER DIRECTED BY THE ELECTOR IN THE PRESENCE OF THE POLL CLERK AND OF NO OTHER PERSON1 AND PLACE THE BALLOT IN THE BALLOT BOX4 7..#B7 ,THE DEPUTY RETURNING OFFICER SHALL EITHER DEAL WITH AN ELECTOR MENTIONED IN SUBSECTION 7#A7 IN THE MANNER PROVIDED THEREIN OR1 AT THE REQUEST OF SUCH ELECTOR WHO HAS TAKEN THE PRESCRIBED OATH OR AFFIRMATION AND IS ACCOMPANIED BY A FRIEND1 SHALL PERMIT THE FRIEND TO ACCOMPANY THE ELECTOR TO THE VOTING SCREEN AND #E THERE MARK THE ELECTOR'S BALLOT B#D FOR HIM OR HER4 7..#C7 ,ANY FRIEND WHO IS PERMITTED TO MARK THE BALLOT OF AN ELECTOR UNDER SUBSECTION #B SHALL FIRST BE REQUIRED TO TAKE AN OATH OR AFFIRMATION THAT HE OR SHE WILL KEEP SECRET THE NAME OF THE CANDIDATE FOR WHOM THE BALLOT WAS MARKED4 7..#D7 ,NO PERSON SHALL BE ALLOWED TO ACT AS THE FRIEND OF MORE THAN ONE ELECTOR MENTIONED IN SUBSECTION 7#A7 AT ANY POLLING PLACE1 OTHER THAN A POLLING PLACE ESTABLISHED UNDER SECTION #AD4 7..#E7 ,THE DEPUTY RETURNING OFFICER SHALL ENTER IN THE POLL RECORD OPPOSITE THE ELECTOR'S NAME THE REASON WHY THE BALLOT WAS MARKED BY THE DEPUTY RETURNING OFFICER OR BY A FRIEND OF THE .ELECTOR4 ,ADDITIONAL ,REFERENCES ,THE .,ELECTION .,ACT FURTHER PROVIDES FOR ELECTORS WITH DISABILITIES IN #F THE AREAS OF ACCESS AND ASSISTANCE C#D AS FOLLOWS3 --------------------------------------#E ,LOCATION OF ,POLLS ,WITH REGARD TO THE LOCATION OF POLLS AND ADVANCE POLLS1 THE ,ACT STATES THAT3 ..#AC 7#C7 ,THE POLL MAY BE SITUATED IN ANY PUBLIC BUILDING OR ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AND SHALL SO FAR AS IS REASONABLY POSSIBLE GIVE ACCESS TO WHEELCHAIRS4 ..#AD 7#A7 ,WHERE AN INSTITUTION FOR THE RECEPTION1 TREATMENT OR VOCATIONAL TRAINING OF PERSONS WHO HAVE SERVED OR ARE SERVING IN THE ,CANADIAN ,FORCES OR WHO ARE DISABLED1 A HOSPITAL1 A PSYCHIATRIC FACILITY1 A HOME FOR THE AGED1 A NURSING HOME OR OTHER INSTITUTION OF TWENTY BEDS OR MORE1 IN WHICH CHRONICALLY ILL OR INFIRM PERSONS RESIDE OR WHERE A RETIREMENT HOME OF FIFTY BEDS OR MORE IS SITUATE IN AN ELECTORAL DISTRICT1 A POLLING PLACE SHALL BE PROVIDED IN SUCH #G INSTITUTION OR UPON THE A#E PREMISES4 ..#AD 7#B7 ,ELECTORS RESIDENT AT AN INSTITUTION REFERRED TO IN SUBSECTION 7#A7 AND WHO ARE ENTERED IN THE LIST OF ELECTORS MAY VOTE AT SUCH POLLING PLACE AND THE ,RETURNING ,OFFICER SHALL ARRANGE FOR THE DEPUTY RETURNING OFFICER AND THE POLL CLERK TO ATTEND UPON THE ELECTORS AT THEIR BEDSIDES OR OTHERWISE FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECEIVING THEIR .BALLOTS4 ,WITH REGARD TO TRANSFERRING POLLING LOCATIONS SPECIFIED IN ,SECTION #BD 7#A7 FOR VOTERS WHO MOVE1 THE ,ACT FURTHER STATES IN 7#A.A7 FOR ELECTORS WITH RESTRICTED MOBILITY THAT3 ..,SUBSECTION 7#A7 ALSO APPLIES1 WITH NECESSARY MODIFICATIONS1 TO AN ELECTOR WHO COULD VOTE MORE CONVENIENTLY IN ANOTHER POLLING DIVISION BECAUSE HIS OR HER MOBILITY IS IMPAIRED BY DISABILITY OR BY SOME OTHER .CAUSE4 #H B#E ,ADVANCE POLLS ARE PROVIDED FOR UNDER ,SECTION #DD 7#A7 WITH THE PROVISION THEY WILL BE OPEN3 ..A7 AT AN OFFICE OF THE ,RETURNING ,OFFICER1 PROVIDED THE BALLOTS HAVE BEEN PRINTED1 ON THE #ABTH1 #AJTH AND #ITH DAYS BEFORE POLLING DAY2 AND ..B7 AT AN OFFICE OF THE ,RETURNING ,OFFICER AND AT DESIGNED OTHER LOCATIONS ON THE #HTH1 #GTH AND #FTH DAYS BEFORE POLLING .DAY4 ,ALSO WITH REGARD TO ADVANCE POLLS1 ,SECTION #DD 7#B7 FURTHER ADVISES THE ,RETURNING ,OFFICER TO 8SELECT LOCATIONS WHICH GIVE ACCESS TO WHEELCHAIRS40 ,PROXY ,VOTING ,AS AN ALTERNATIVE FOR ELECTORS WHO ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND IN PERSON TO VOTE AT AN ADVANCE POLL OR POLLING-DAY LOCATION1 THE ,ACT PROVIDES FOR PROXY VOTER APPOINTMENTS AS FOLLOWS3 #I C#E ..#BD 7#B7 ,WHERE AN ELECTOR WHOSE NAME APPEARS ON A POLLING LIST FOR THE POLLING DIVISION WHERE HE OR SHE RESIDES1 7..A7 HAS APPOINTED A PROXY VOTER WHOSE NAME APPEARS ON A DIFFERENT LIST IN THE SAME ELECTORAL DISTRICT2 OR --------------------------------------#F 7..B7 HAS BEEN APPOINTED1 7..;I7 TO CAST A PROXY VOTE AT A POLLING PLACE OTHER THAN HIS OR HER OWN BUT IN THE SAME ELECTORAL DISTRICT1 OR 7..;II7 TO ACT AS A DEPUTY RETURNING OFFICER1 POLL CLERK OR SCRUTINEER AT A POLLING PLACE OTHER THAN HIS OR HER OWN BUT IN THE SAME ELECTORAL DISTRICT1 ..AN APPLICATION MAY BE MADE TO THE REVISING OFFICIAL FOR A CERTIFICATE TO VOTE AT THE OTHER POLLING .PLACE4 #AJ ,MOVING OF ,BALLOT ,BOXES A#F ,THE ,ACT REFERS SPECIFICALLY TO THE MOVING OF BALLOT BOXES TO FACILITATE ACCESS TO VOTING AS FOLLOWS3 ..#DF 7#E7 ,THE BALLOT BOX MAY BE MOVED BY THE POLL OFFICIALS TO FACILITATE VOTING BY AN ELDERLY OR DISABLED ELECTOR BUT WHERE THE BOX IS SO MOVED IT MAY BE ACCOMPANIED BY ANY SCRUTINEER PRESENT AND A RECORD OF ANY SUCH ACTION AND ANY OBJECTION TAKEN BY A SCRUTINEER SHALL BE MADE IN THE POLL RECORD OPPOSITE THE NAME OF THE .ELECTOR4 ,INTERPRETERS ,THE ,ACT SPEAKS TO THE PROVISION OF INTERPRETERS BOTH AT THE TIME OF REVISION AND AT THE POLLS AS FOLLOWS3 ..#BA 7#H7 ,WHERE THE ,RETURNING ,OFFICER OR HIS OR HER REVISION ASSISTANT DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THE LANGUAGE SPOKEN BY AN APPLICANT #AA OR WHERE THE APPLICANT IS DEAF1 B#F THE APPLICANT HAS THE RIGHT TO THE ASSISTANCE OF AN INTERPRETER WHO1 AFTER TAKING THE PRESCRIBED OATH OR AFFIRMATION1 MAY TRANSLATE ANY NECESSARY DECLARATIONS1 DOCUMENTS OR LAWFUL QUESTIONS PUT TO THE APPLICANT AND THE ANSWERS1 BUT IN THE EVENT OF INABILITY TO SECURE AN INTERPRETER1 THE APPLICATION MAY FOR THE TIME BEING1 BE REFUSED4 ..#EF4 ,WHERE NEITHER THE DEPUTY RETURNING OFFICER NOR THE POLL CLERK UNDERSTANDS THE LANGUAGE SPOKEN BY AN ELECTOR OR WHERE THE ELECTOR IS DEAF1 THE ELECTOR HAS THE RIGHT TO THE ASSISTANCE OF AN INTERPRETER WHO1 AFTER TAKING THE PRESCRIBED OATH OR AFFIRMATION1 MAY TRANSLATE ANY NECESSARY DECLARATIONS1 DOCUMENTS OR LAWFUL QUESTIONS PUT TO THE ELECTOR AND THE ANSWERS1 BUT IN THE EVENT OF INABILITY TO SECURE AN INTERPRETER1 THE ELECTOR SHALL1 FOR THE TIME BEING1 BE REFUSED A .BALLOT4 #AB ,BALLOTS C#F ,SECTION #CD ADDRESSES THE PRINTING OF BALLOTS AS FOLLOWS3 --------------------------------------#G 7..#B7 ,THE NAMES OF THE CANDIDATES SHALL BE SHOWN IN CAPITAL LETTERS ON THE BALLOT IN ORDER OF THEIR LEGAL SURNAMES1 AND1 SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION #BG 7#H71 ALPHABETICALLY ARRANGED1 WITH GIVEN NAMES PRECEDING THE SURNAMES1 WITH THE SURNAMES IN BOLD TYPE1 AND WITH CONSECUTIVE NUMBERS PRECEDING EACH CANDIDATE'S NAME1 AND AT HIS OR HER REQUEST ANY SOBRIQUET OR AN ABBREVIATION OR FAMILIAR FORM OF A GIVEN NAME MAY BE USED IN LIEU OF A CANDIDATE'S LEGAL GIVEN NAME OR NAMES4 7..#C7 ,A CIRCULAR SPACE SHALL BE SHOWN ON THE BALLOT HORIZONTALLY ALIGNED WITH EACH CANDIDATE'S NAME4 7..#D7 ,THE CIRCULAR SPACES1 NUMBERS1 NAMES OF THE CANDIDATES AND ANY OTHER INFORMATION REQUIRED UNDER SUBSECTION #BG 7#H7 SHALL BE THE NATURAL #AC COLOUR OF THE BALLOT PAPER AND A#G THE REMAINDER OF THE FACE OF THE BALLOT SHALL BE BLACK4 ..,AS NOTED IN ,SECTION ,B1 ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO HAS INTRODUCED A BALLOT TEMPLATE AND NOTCHED BALLOT AND CONTINUES TO CONSULT WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO ADDRESS THE BALLOT FORMAT FOR ELECTORS WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY .IMPAIRED4 ,VOTING ,SCREENS ,SECTION #CH 7#B7 ADDRESSES THE POSITIONING OF ,VOTING ,SCREENS AT POLLING PLACES ONLY WITH REGARD TO ENSURING 8THAT THE VOTING SCREENS AT THE POLLING PLACE ARE POSITIONED SO THAT ELECTORS MAY MARK THEIR BALLOTS WITH MAXIMUM PRIVACY AND WITHOUT OTHER PERSONS BEING ABLE TO SEE HOW THEY ARE MARKED40 ..,AS NOTED IN ,SECTION ,B OF THIS DOCUMENT1 ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO #AD HAS DIRECTED ,RETURNING B#G ,OFFICERS TO ENSURE THAT ,VOTING ,SCREENS ARE POSITIONED FOR EASE OF ACCESS FOR VOTERS WHO USE .WHEELCHAIRS4 ------------------------------------#H-I ,SECTION ,B--,STRATEGY @& ,IMPLEMENTATION IN #BJJC FOR ,ELECTORS WITH ,DISABILITIES ,OBJECTIVES ,IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE .,ELECTION .,ACT1 IN THE SPIRIT OF THE ..,ONTARIANS WITH ,DISABILITIES .,ACT 7,,ODA71 AND WITH REGARD TO THE #CHTH ,GENERAL ,ELECTION3 ,ASSESSMENT OF POLICIES1 PROGRAMS AND PRACTICES ,IDENTIFICATION1 REMOVAL AND PREVENTION OF BARRIERS TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES4 #AE ,STRATEGY A#I ,DEVELOP AND ISSUE #BJJC .,OUTREACH .,POLICY ,EXPAND ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO'S ,OUTREACH ,PROGRAM FOR MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE THAT PROMOTES AN EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION AND IDEAS WITH STAKEHOLDER GROUPS TO3 ,EDUCATE THEIR MEMBERS_/CONSTITUENTS ABOUT THE ELECTORAL PROCESS ,INCREASE AWARENESS AND ENCOURAGE USE OF ELECTOR SERVICES AVAILABLE TO THEIR MEMBERS_/CONSTITUENTS ,PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON ELECTIONS IN MULTIPLE FORMATS4 ,WITH RESPECT TO OUTREACH EFFORTS DIRECTED AT ELECTORS WITH DISABILITIES1 AND WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF THE .,ELECTION .,ACT1 ADDRESS POTENTIAL BARRIERS TO VOTING DUE TO 7AS DERIVED FROM 8,DEFINITIONS0 WITHIN THE ,,ODA73 ,PHYSICAL LAYOUT AND ARCHITECTURAL PROVISIONS #AF ,INFORMATION_/COMMUNICATIONS B#I ,ATTITUDES ,TECHNOLOGY ,POLICIES @& ,PRACTICES4 ,DEFINE TARGET GROUPS ,UP TO #A.E MILLION ,ONTARIO ELECTORS WITH DISABILITIES 7FROM .,ACCESSIBILITY .,ONTARIO STATISTICS7 ,REPRESENTATIVE STAKEHOLDER ORGANIZATIONS SERVING ELECTORS WITH DISABILITIES4 -------------------------------------#AJ ,IMPLEMENTATION ,OVERVIEW ,IN ,NOVEMBER #BJJB1 ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO COMPLETED AN INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL SCAN OF SPECIAL NEEDS POPULATIONS1 INCLUDING NEEDS RELATED TO DISABILITIES1 PERMANENT RESIDENCE AND ETHNO-CULTURAL FACTORS4 ,WE EXAMINED THE ISSUES RAISED AND NEW PRODUCTS AND SERVICES REQUESTED BY STAKEHOLDER GROUPS1 THE RELATED PROVISIONS IN THE .,ELECTION .,ACT #AG TO RESPOND TO THEM1 AND THE A#AJ ANTICIPATED RESOURCES TO DELIVER THEM4 ,ADDITIONALLY1 WE CONTACTED ELECTION OFFICES IN OTHER PROVINCES AND LARGE MUNICIPALITIES TO SECURE INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR OUTREACH INITIATIVES1 ESTABLISH BENCHMARKS AND IDENTIFY BEST PRACTICES4 ,IT BECAME CLEAR THAT ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO IS A LEADER IN THIS AREA1 AS OUR PROGRAM WAS ALREADY MORE COMPREHENSIVE THAN ANY OTHER WE EXAMINED4 ,A WIDE RANGE OF STAKEHOLDERS HAS AN INTEREST IN THE ,ONTARIO ELECTORAL PROCESS4 ,THEIR OPINIONS AND CONCERNS ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO AND TO OUR SUCCESS IN ENSURING A FAIR AND ACCESSIBLE ELECTION PROCESS FOR ALL ,ONTARIO ELECTORS4 ,SINCE THE PROGRAM'S INCEPTION THROUGH TO OUR LATEST BENCHMARKING1 WE HAVE MADE STEADY PROGRESS4 ,WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND OUR CONTACT WITH STAKEHOLDER GROUPS THAT PROVIDE SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BLIND_/VISUALLY IMPAIRED AND_/OR #AH DEAF_/DEAFENED_/HARD OF HEARING1 B#AJ OR WHO HAVE A PHYSICAL DISABILITY OR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE4 ,IN ADDITION TO ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF ELECTORS WITH DISABILITIES1 WE ALSO WORK WITH STAKEHOLDER GROUPS THAT REPRESENT ELECTORS WITH OTHER SPECIFIC CONCERNS1 SUCH AS STUDENTS1 SENIORS1 ELECTORS IN WOMEN'S SHELTERS AND THOSE WHO ARE HOMELESS4 ,IN PREPARATION FOR THE RECENT PROVINCIAL ELECTION AND AS PART OF OUR ONGOING OUTREACH INITIATIVES1 IN #BJJC1 ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO CONTINUED TO FOCUS ON BUILDING STRONG PARTNERSHIPS AND WORKING COOPERATIVELY WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO ADDRESS IMMEDIATE NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITIES1 AS WELL AS FURTHER OUR VISION OF ELECTORAL PROCESS EXCELLENCE1 WITHIN THE MANDATE LEGISLATED BY THE .,ELECTION .,ACT4 ,ONE RECENT AND BROADLY APPLICABLE BENEFIT OF THIS EXCHANGE OF IDEAS WAS A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE ,ONTARIANS WITH ,DISABILITIES ,ACT ,COMMITTEE TO #AI TRIAL A SPECIAL INFORMATION C#AJ HOTLINE DURING THE ELECTION PERIOD FOR VOTERS WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES WHO ENCOUNTERED DIFFICULTIES IN VOTING4 ,WE ENLISTED THE HELP OF STAKEHOLDER PARTNERS TO PROMOTE THE AVAILABILITY OF THIS SERVICE TO THEIR MEMBERS4 ,APPROXIMATELY #HJ INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES USED THIS SERVICE DURING THE #BJJC ELECTION4 ,WHILE OUR ACTIVITIES IN #BJJC WERE LARGELY GEARED TO DELIVERING THE PROVINCIAL ELECTION1 WE ALSO RECOGNIZED THE NEED TO MAINTAIN AND EXPAND OUR ,OUTREACH ,PROGRAM THROUGH CONTINUED CONSULTATIONS WITH STAKEHOLDER GROUPS1 AND COOPERATIVE1 TWO-WAY COMMUNICATIONS AND EDUCATION4 -------------------------------------#AA ,CORE ,POLICIES AND ,PRACTICES ,IN PREPARING FOR THE #BJJC PROVINCIAL ELECTION1 WE RECOGNIZED THAT THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OFTEN REQUIRE INDIVIDUAL SOLUTIONS4 #BJ ,THUS1 WE FOCUSED ON BOTH CORE A#AA INITIATIVES THAT WOULD BE APPLICABLE IN RESPONDING TO A BROAD RANGE OF DISABILITIES1 AS WELL AS ON CUSTOMIZED APPROACHES TO MEET SPECIFIC NEEDS4 ,WITH REGARD TO THE BROADER APPLICATIONS1 WE REINFORCED EXISTING CORE POLICIES AND PRACTICES AND INTRODUCED NEW MEASURES WHERE POSSIBLE4 ,THESE CORE MEASURES ARE PRESENTED IMMEDIATELY BELOW1 AND FOLLOWED BY ISSUES AND RECOMMENDATIONS GATHERED FROM STAKEHOLDERS IN RESPONSE TO THEM3 ,PROVIDED SENSITIVITY TRAINING TO ,RETURNING ,OFFICERS1 AND REQUIRED THEM TO RELAY THIS TO ELECTION STAFF TO INCREASE THEIR EFFECTIVENESS IN RESPONDING TO THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF VOTERS AND PROVIDE EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE AT THE POLLS4 ,WITH JUST #BH DAYS FROM THE DROP OF THE WRIT TO ,ELECTION ,DAY1 IT IS CHALLENGING FOR SOME ELECTORS TO COMPLETE THE PROXY APPLICATION #BA PROCESS IF THEY ARE REQUIRED TO B#AA MAIL IN THEIR SIGNED PROXY APPLICATION4 ,AS A RESULT1 ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO OPTED TO CHANGE THE POLICY OF REQUIRING AN ORIGINAL SIGNED APPLICATION AND ACCEPT A FAXED APPLICATION4 ,PURSUANT TO THE .,ELECTION .,ACT1 ,RETURNING ,OFFICERS WERE REQUIRED TO ENSURE ALL ADVANCE POLL LOCATIONS AND AS MANY ELECTION-DAY POLL LOCATIONS AS POSSIBLE WERE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE4 ,THE ,CHIEF ,ELECTION ,OFFICER ALSO DIRECTED ,RETURNING ,OFFICERS TO SELECT RETURNING OFFICE LOCATIONS THAT WERE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE4 ,COMMUNICATED ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO VOTE 7I4E4 AT ADVANCE POLLS1 THROUGH PROXY VOTING7 WITH ALL ELECTORS IN INFORMATION MATERIALS 7E4G4 WEB SITE1 INFORMATION BROCHURE SENT TO ALL HOUSEHOLDS1 CONSULTATION WITH OUTREACH GROUPS7 TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF OPPORTUNITIES4 ,EMPHASIZED ALTERNATIVE #BB INFORMATION_/COMMUNICATIONS C#AA CHANNELS 7E4G4 ,,TTY1 ACCESSIBLE WEB SITE1 MULTI-LANGUAGE7 FOR DISBURSEMENT DIRECTLY TO ELECTORS1 AS WELL AS THROUGH THEIR SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS4 ,ENSURED CLEAR1 DIRECTIONAL SIGNAGE IN ALL VOTING LOCATIONS AND CREATED PICTOGRAPH POSTERS FOR PLACEMENT IN POLLING STATIONS TO HELP PEOPLE WITH A VARIETY OF SPECIAL NEEDS BY VISUALLY SHOWING WITH DIAGRAMS THE STEPS A VOTER FOLLOWS TO CAST A BALLOT4 ,PILOTED A ,VOTER ,ASSISTANCE ,HOTLINE THAT WAS AVAILABLE ON VOTING DAYS SPECIFICALLY TO ELECTORS WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES FOR IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE IN THE EVENT THEY EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY IN VOTING4 ,THIS SERVICE WAS USED BY APPROXIMATELY #HJ ELECTORS AND WAS AVAILABLE UNTIL THE CLOSE OF POLLS ON ,ELECTION ,DAY4 ,TRAINED CENTRAL CALL CENTRE AGENTS TO RESPOND TO SPECIAL NEEDS1 INCLUDING THOSE OF ELECTORS WITH DISABILITIES4 ,ONGOING CONSULTATION WITH THE #BC ,ACCESSIBILITY ,DIRECTORATE TO D#AA FURTHER ENSURE ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO IS DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SUPPORT THE SPIRIT OF THE ..,ONTARIANS WITH ,DISABILITIES .,ACT4 -------------------------------------#AB ,KEY ,ISSUES ,VARIOUS STAKEHOLDER GROUPS AND INDIVIDUAL ELECTORS COMMUNICATED THEIR DISSATISFACTION WITH THE LEVEL OF SERVICE PROVIDED TO ELECTORS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AT THE LOCAL LEVELS BY POLL WORKERS AND ELECTION OFFICIALS4 ,RETURNING ,OFFICERS ARE DIRECTED TO PLACE POLLS1 WHENEVER POSSIBLE1 IN VOTING LOCATIONS THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE4 ,HOWEVER1 ACCESSIBILITY OF POLLS IS SOMETIMES LIMITED BY THE AVAILABILITY OF SUITABLE SITES4 ,A PROVINCIAL ELECTION REQUIRES A VAST1 TEMPORARY WORKFORCE -- MORE THAN #FJ1JJJ WORKERS ARE NEEDED TO STAFF THE NEARLY #BC1JJJ POLLS REQUIRED ON ,ELECTION ,DAY4 ,THIS PRESENTS SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES IN #BD ENSURING COMPLIANCE WITH A#AB BEHAVIOUR STANDARDS AND LEGISLATED REQUIREMENTS4 ,STAKEHOLDER ,RECOMMENDATIONS ,EVALUATE 8LESSONS LEARNED0 TO ENHANCE SENSITIVITY TRAINING MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGIES FOR ELECTION OFFICIALS1 RECOGNIZING THE DIVERSITY OF SPECIAL NEEDS4 ,ADDRESS LIMITATIONS IN DISSEMINATION OF TRAINING AND INFORMATION TO POLL WORKERS1 GIVEN THAT MOST ARE HIRED FOR ,ELECTION ,DAY ONLY4 ,CUSTOMIZED ,APPROACHES ,AS NOTED ABOVE1 RECOGNIZING THAT DIFFERENT DISABILITIES ALSO MEAN DIFFERENT NEEDS1 ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO AUGMENTED CORE MEASURES WITH CUSTOMIZED INFORMATION1 SERVICES AND MATERIALS1 DEVELOPING MANY WITH THE INPUT OF OUR OUTREACH PARTNERS4 ,THESE DISTINCT MEASURES AND THE ISSUES AND #BE RECOMMENDATIONS GATHERED FROM B#AB STAKEHOLDERS IN RESPONSE TO THEM1 ARE DISCUSSED AS FOLLOWS3 ,ELECTORS WHO ARE ,BLIND OR ,VISUALLY ,IMPAIRED ,HIGHLIGHTS ,WORKED WITH THE ,,CNIB TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE BALLOT TEMPLATE4 ,PROVIDED ELECTION INFORMATION IN LARGE PRINT1 AUDIO AND ,BRAILLE FORMATS4 ,PROVIDED MAGNIFIERS TO ,RETURNING ,OFFICERS FOR INCLUSION IN ALL POLL KITS1 AS WELL AS NOTCHED BALLOTS1 BALLOT TEMPLATES AND BALLOTS WITH CANDIDATES' SURNAMES IN LARGE TYPE FOR MAXIMUM LEGIBILITY4 ,OFFERED VOTER ASSISTANCE AS NEEDED 7E4G4 POLL OFFICIALS WERE AVAILABLE TO READ THE CANDIDATES' LIST AND ASSIST VOTERS TO AND FROM THE SCREEN WHERE BALLOTS COULD BE MARKED PRIVATELY1 OR TO FACILITATE THE APPOINTMENT OF A FRIEND TO ASSIST A VOTER WHO HAS #BF A DISABILITY74 C#AB -------------------------------------#AC ,DISCUSSION ,OFFICIALS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ,OUTREACH ,PROGRAM CONSULTED WITH THE ,CANADIAN ,NATIONAL ,INSTITUTE FOR THE ,BLIND 7,,CNIB7 TO ENSURE THAT ELECTORS WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED HAD ACCESS TO ELECTION INFORMATION IN ALTERNATE FORMATS AND TO REDUCE BARRIERS TO VOTING AT THE POLLS4 ,WHILE OTHER GROUPS WERE ALSO CONTACTED FOR DISCUSSION AND FEEDBACK1 THE ,,CNIB BECAME THE FOCAL POINT OF ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO'S EFFORTS TO REACH THESE ELECTORS BECAUSE OF ITS BROAD REACH AND WILLINGNESS TO PARTNER WITH US4 ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO FORWARDED A SUMMARY OF SERVICES TO GROUPS SERVING PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED4 ,WE DISTRIBUTED THE ,8HOUSEHOLDER0' INFORMATION BROCHURE IN ,BRAILLE1 LARGE-PRINT AND AUDIO FORMATS TO ,,CNIB'S #BA DISTRICT OFFICES #BG ACROSS ,ONTARIO4 ,COPIES WERE A#AC ALSO SENT TO ALL ,RETURNING ,OFFICERS TO BE MADE AVAILABLE IN THE RETURNING OFFICES ON AN AS-REQUESTED BASIS4 ,AT THIS POINT IN TIME1 ,,CNIB HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE US WITH ANY FEEDBACK ON THE USE OF THE ALTERNATE FORMAT ELECTION MATERIALS DISTRIBUTED TO THEIR OFFICES2 HOWEVER1 THEY HAVE INDICATED THEY WILL BE COLLECTING FEEDBACK TO FORWARD TO ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO4 ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO ALSO PURCHASED ADVERTISING TIME ON ,VOICE,PRINT 7A FREE #BD-HOUR NEWS AND INFORMATION AUDIO SERVICE74 ,THE HOUSEHOLDER BROCHURE AND FOUR PRINT ADVERTISEMENTS WERE AIRED ON ,VOICE,PRINT DURING THE ELECTION PERIOD4 ,FOR THE FIRST TIME1 ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO PROVIDED A ,BRAILLE FILE OF THE HOUSEHOLDER ON OUR WEB SITE4 ,THIS NEW SERVICE ALLOWED ELECTORS WHO ARE BLIND TO ACCESS THE FILE AND PRINT IT ON A ,BRAILLE PRINTER4 ,THIS INITIATIVE WAS WELL RECEIVED BY ,,CNIB4 ,HOWEVER1 #BH THE VERSION AVAILABLE FOR THE B#AC RECENT ELECTION REQUIRED CONNECTION VIA ,INTERNET WHEN PRINTING2 IN THE FUTURE1 ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO WILL LOOK AT MAKING THE FILE DOWNLOADABLE TO USERS' COMPUTERS1 TO ENABLE THEM TO PRINT IT OFF-LINE4 ,AT THE SUGGESTION OF ,,CNIB1 ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO FOR THE FIRST TIME ALSO INCLUDED MAGNIFIERS IN POLL KITS SO THEY COULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE WITH LOW VISION4 ,THE ,OUTREACH ,PROGRAM INCLUDED SEVERAL FACE-TO-FACE MEETINGS WITH ,,CNIB TO DISCUSS WAYS TO IMPROVE THE EXISTING BALLOT TEMPLATE4 ,THE BALLOT IS ALREADY NOTCHED TO ASSIST VOTERS WHO ARE BLIND TO ALIGN THE BALLOT IN THE TEMPLATE BY TOUCH TO FACILITATE INDEPENDENT VOTING4 ,INITIAL SUGGESTIONS FROM ,,CNIB WERE TO DOUBLE-NOTCH THE TEMPLATE ON THE TOP RIGHT-HAND CORNER 7IT IS CURRENTLY SINGLE-NOTCHED7 AND TO GLUE THE BOTTOM OF THE TEMPLATE CLOSED SO THAT THE #BI BALLOT WOULD NOT SLIP THROUGH4 C#AC ,OTHER IDEAS INCLUDED THE POSSIBILITY OF PLACING A STRIP OF NUMBERS IN ,BRAILLE ALONG THE SIDE OF THE BALLOT TO CORRESPOND WITH THE HOLES SO ELECTORS WHO ARE BLIND CAN MORE EASILY AND INDEPENDENTLY CAST THEIR VOTE IN THE CORRECT LOCATION ON THE BALLOT4 ,THIS1 HOWEVER1 WILL HAVE TO BE ANALYZED VERY CAREFULLY TO DETERMINE IF ADEQUATE TIME IS -------------------------------------#AD AVAILABLE WITHIN THE ELECTION PERIOD TO FACILITATE THE ADDITIONAL LOGISTICS AND ACCURACY REQUIREMENTS FOR PRINTING BALLOTS WITH ,BRAILLE4 ,BECAUSE ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO HAD ALREADY DISTRIBUTED THE EXISTING BALLOT TEMPLATES IN THE POLL PACKAGES TO THE RETURNING OFFICES 7AS PART OF OUR ELECTION-READINESS OBLIGATION71 IT WAS DECIDED IN CONSULTATION WITH ,,CNIB THAT WE WOULD INSTRUCT POLL STAFF TO OPEN THEIR PACKAGES AND TAPE THE BOTTOM OF THE BALLOT TEMPLATE AS A TEMPORARY #CJ SOLUTION4 ,IN THE END1 THIS WAS A#AD DEEMED NOT PRACTICAL AFTER IT BECAME APPARENT THAT TAPING THE BOTTOM OF THE BALLOT TEMPLATE COULD CAUSE PROBLEMS IF NOT DONE EXACTLY4 ,AS A RESULT1 THIS IDEA WAS ABANDONED AND ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO COMMITTED TO ADDRESS THE FEASIBILITY OF A NEW BALLOT TEMPLATE FOR THE NEXT PROVINCIAL GENERAL ELECTION4 ,OTHER IDEAS DISCUSSED WITH ,,CNIB IN THE MONTHS LEADING UP TO THE ELECTION INCLUDED PROVIDING THE CANDIDATES' NAMES IN ,BRAILLE AT THE POLLS 7THIS WAS DEEMED TO BE COMPLICATED LOGISTICALLY1 AND WAS TABLED FOR FUTURE DISCUSSIONS74 ,A ,,CNIB VIDEO WAS INCLUDED AS PART OF A PRESENTATION TO THE 8TRAIN THE TRAINERS0 SESSION PRIOR TO THE ELECTION PERIOD4 ,,CNIB HAS OFFERED TO WORK MORE CLOSELY WITH ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO IN FUTURE TO DEVELOP A MORE COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING PROGRAM THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR IMPROVED SENSITIVITY AT THE POLLS4 ,DURING A DE-BRIEFING MEETING WITH ,,CNIB1 IT WAS NOTED THAT MEASURES #CA SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IN THE FUTURE B#AD TO ASSIST VOTERS WHO ARE BOTH DEAF AND BLIND1 AS THEY MAY REQUIRE ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS DUE TO THE DUAL NATURE OF THE DISABILITY4 ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO WILL CONTINUE TO EXPLORE THIS IMPLICATION FOR MORE DETAIL ON WHAT IS NEEDED4 ,KEY ,ISSUES ,FURTHER MODIFICATIONS TO THE BALLOT TEMPLATE MAY BE REQUIRED TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF VOTERS WHO ARE BLIND OR HAVE LOW VISION4 ,STAKEHOLDER ,RECOMMENDATIONS ,RE-DESIGN THE BALLOT TEMPLATE TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE BALLOT MAY SLIP_/MOVE2 TEST NEW BALLOT TEMPLATE DESIGN IN FOCUS GROUPS4 ,TRAIN 7AND USE TRAINING VIDEOS7 TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO USE THE BALLOT TEMPLATE1 HOW TO GUIDE A BLIND PERSON1 HOW TO BEST ASSIST A PERSON TO VOTE INDEPENDENTLY AND HOW TO CONDUCT THE APPOINTMENT #CB PROCESS FOR A FRIEND WHO IS C#AD ACTING AS AN ASSISTANT_/GUIDE4 ,LEVERAGE NEW STAKEHOLDER CHANNELS TO SEND THE HOUSEHOLDER TO ELECTORS WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED 7IN LARGE PRINT OR ,BRAILLE FORMAT74 ,ADDRESS CHALLENGES RELATED TO DOWNLOADING ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO'S WEB SITE MATERIALS FOR OFF-LINE USE4 -------------------------------------#AE ,ELECTORS WHO ARE ,DEAF_/,DEAFENED_/,HARD OF ,HEARING ,HIGHLIGHTS ,CONTINUED TO OFFER A ,,TTY TELEPHONE LINE4 ,PROVIDED PENCILS_/NOTEPADS IN POLL KITS TO ALL DEPUTING RETURNING OFFICERS4 ,CONSULTED WITH THE ,CANADIAN ,HEARING ,SOCIETY TO COORDINATE THE PROVISION BY ,ONTARIO ,INTERPRETER ,SERVICES 7,,OIS7 TO PROVIDE ,AMERICAN ,SIGN ,LANGUAGE 7,,ASL7 INTERPRETERS ON AN AS-AVAILABLE1 FIRST-COME1 FIRST- #CC SERVED BASIS AT VOTING A#AE LOCATIONS4 ,DISCUSSION ,WE HAVE CONSULTED WITH SEVERAL GROUPS REPRESENTING PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING4 ,MOST GROUPS PROVIDED ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO WITH GENERAL FEEDBACK AND MANY DIRECTED US TO THE ,CANADIAN ,HEARING ,SOCIETY 7AS A KEY ORGANIZATION WITH EXPERTISE IN THIS AREA74 ,THE MOST IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT ARISING FROM CONSULTATION WITH ,,CHS WAS A NEW INITIATIVE TO OFFER ,AMERICAN ,SIGN ,LANGUAGE 7,,ASL7 INTERPRETERS TO PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING4 ,THIS WAS DONE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ,,CHS AND ITS INTERPRETER ARM1 ,ONTARIO ,INTERPRETER ,SERVICES4 ,WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE ,,CHS_/,,OIS TO DEVELOP A MODEL THAT WAS PRACTICAL AND MANAGEABLE4 ,WITH NEARLY #BC1JJJ POLLS ACROSS THE PROVINCE AND FEWER THAN #AJJ ,,OIS INTERPRETERS IN ,ONTARIO1 WE #CD IDENTIFIED A POTENTIAL LOGISTICAL B#AE PROBLEM FOR FUTURE ATTENTION4 ,THOSE REQUESTING THE SERVICE WERE TO CONTACT THE ,,OIS AT THE ,CANADIAN ,HEARING ,SOCIETY OFFICE NEAREST THEM1 OR ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO'S TOLL-FREE ,,TTY NUMBER OR E-MAIL ADDRESS 7FOR REFERRAL TO THE NEAREST ,,OIS OFFICE74 ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO PROMOTED THIS NEW SERVICE IN OUR HOUSEHOLDER BROCHURE AND IN PRINT ADVERTISING1 AND THE ,,CHS PROMOTED IT AMONG ITS MEMBERSHIP4 ,WE SENT ALL OTHER GROUPS REPRESENTING PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING INFORMATION ABOUT THE NEW SERVICE4 ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO COVERED THE COST OF THE SERVICE4 ,THE ,,CHS WAS VERY PLEASED THAT ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO HAD TAKEN THIS STEP TO MAKE VOTING MORE ACCESSIBLE TO ,ONTARIANS WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING4 ,TO DATE1 WE ARE AWARE OF ONLY FOUR ELECTORS WHO USED THE SERVICE 7I4E4 ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO HAS RECEIVED FOUR INVOICES FOR THIS SERVICE74 ,THE ,,CHS HAS BEEN #CE UNABLE TO DETERMINE IF MORE C#AE PEOPLE USED 7OR ATTEMPTED TO USE7 THE SERVICE4 ,IT WAS FELT THAT THIS PROVISION OF ,,ASL WAS A VERY GOOD FIRST STEP1 AND THAT THE LOW UPTAKE IS LIKELY A RESULT OF THIS BEING THE FIRST TIME THAT THE SERVICE WAS MADE AVAILABLE4 ,WITH MORE TIME TO PROMOTE IT IN FUTURE ELECTIONS1 THE ,,CHS HAS SUGGESTED THAT USE WILL INCREASE IN THE FUTURE4 ,AS A RESULT OF CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER GROUPS WHO PROVIDE SERVICES TO PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING1 ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO FOR THE FIRST TIME INCLUDED PENCILS AND NOTE -------------------------------------#AF PADS IN POLL KITS1 SO ELECTORS WHO HAVE DIFFICULTY COMMUNICATING VERBALLY COULD EASILY WRITE THEIR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS AND PROVIDE THEM TO POLL WORKERS FOR RESPONSE4 ,KEY ,ISSUES ,RETURNING OFFICES DO NOT HAVE #CF ,,TTY PHONES4 A#AF ,THERE IS INTEREST IN CONTINUING TO PARTNER WITH ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO TO SUPPORT SENSITIVITY TRAINING FOR POLL STAFF4 ,THE ,,CHS IN PARTICULAR HAS INDICATED A SENSE THAT POLL STAFF ARE NOT SUFFICIENTLY TRAINED TO APPROPRIATELY DEAL WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING4 ,STAKEHOLDER ,RECOMMENDATIONS ,CREATE A CAPTIONED ,,ASL VIDEOTAPE ABOUT VOTING PROCEDURES FOR DISTRIBUTING AND PLAYING IN ,,CHS DISTRICT OFFICES4 ,CONTINUE TO MAKE ,,ASL INTERPRETERS AVAILABLE ON AN AS-NEEDED BASIS DURING THE ELECTION PERIOD4 ,EXPAND PUBLICATION OF THE ,,TTY PHONE NUMBER TO ALL COMMUNICATIONS 7ADVERTISING1 ETC474 ,REVIEW THE FEASIBILITY OF INSTALLING ,,TTY PHONES IN RETURNING OFFICES4 ,TARGET COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES THROUGH THEIR ,OFFICES FOR #CG ,STUDENTS WITH ,DISABILITIES B#AF 7,,OSD'S74 ,MAKE SECTION ON ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO WEB SITE FOR 8,VOTERS ,WITH ,SPECIAL ,NEEDS0 MORE OBVIOUS4 ,CONSIDER CREATING A BROCHURE OR POSTER INFORMING PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAF ABOUT ,ELECTION ,ONTARIO'S AVAILABLE SERVICES4 ,,CHS WOULD BE PLEASED TO DISTRIBUTE THIS4 ,ELECTORS WITH ,MENTAL ,HEALTH ,ISSUES ,HIGHLIGHTS ,IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE .,ELECTION .,ACT1 ,RETURNING ,OFFICERS WERE DIRECTED TO COMPLETE REGISTRATION_/REVISION AND POLLING ACTIVITIES AT HEALTH INSTITUTIONS WITHIN THEIR ELECTORAL DISTRICTS THAT ARE COVERED BY ,SECTION #AD 7#A7 OF THE ,ACT4 #CH ,DISCUSSION C#AF ,MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS HAVE REINFORCED THAT ELECTORS WHO LIVE IN MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES ARE CAPABLE AND INTERESTED IN EXERCISING THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE AND FEEL THE HURDLES ARE ENORMOUS4 ,THESE WORKERS INDICATED THEY ARE PLEASED THAT THEIR CONCERNS WERE TAKEN SERIOUSLY1 UNDERSTAND THAT THE ISSUES COULD NOT BE RESOLVED ON ,ELECTION ,DAY1 AND ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO TO IMPROVE ACCESS FOR THEIR CLIENTS TO THE POLLS4 -------------------------------------#AG ,THERE ARE #AJ MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES ACROSS ,ONTARIO THAT EXPRESSLY FALL UNDER THE .,ELECTION .,ACT'S PROVISION FOR POLLS TO BE LOCATED ON SITE FOR RESIDENTS4 ,WE CONFIRMED WITH THE ,PSYHIATRIC ,PATIENT ,ADVOCACY ,OFFICE THAT POLLS WERE CONDUCTED SATISFACTORILY4 ,IN THE INITIAL STAGES OF OUR RELATIONSHIP-BUILDING IN THIS AREA1 WE HAVE NOTED THE NEED TO PROVIDE #CI ENHANCED EDUCATION TO FACILITY A#AG ADMINISTRATORS IN ADVANCE OF AN ELECTION TO SUPPORT MORE COMPREHENSIVE REGISTRATION_/REVISION OF RESIDENTS FOR VOTERS LISTS4 ,THE ,CANADIAN ,MENTAL ,HEALTH ,ASSOCIATION 7,,CMHA7 INDICATED THE POTENTIAL CORRELATION BETWEEN HOMELESSNESS AND MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES4 ,THIS COMPLEMENTED OUR TACTICS IN WORKING WITH ELECTORS WHO ARE HOMELESS 7AND FOR WHOM IDENTIFICATION AND RESIDENCE POSE A POTENTIAL BARRIER TO VOTING71 MOST NOTABLY3 ,THE APPOINTMENT OF ,LIAISON ,OFFICERS FOR THE ,HOMELESS IN AREAS OF HIGH CONCENTRATION OF HOMELESS ELECTORS4 ,THE PROVISIONS OF GUIDELINES AND A TEMPLATE TO SHELTER ADMINISTRATION TO ENABLE THEM TO PROVIDE OFFICIAL LETTERS FOR HOMELESS ELECTORS TO CONFIRM THEIR IDENTITY AND RESIDENCE4 ,COOPERATION WITH SERVICE GROUPS TO ASSIST THE HOMELESS IN #DJ REGISTRATION AND VOTING AT B#AG ADVANCE POLLS4 ,INFORMATION PACKAGES WERE ALSO PROVIDED TO ALL ,,CMHA DISTRICT OFFICES4 ,KEY ,ISSUES ,THE PATIENT ADVOCATE AT ,,CAMH IS CONCERNED THAT ,RETURNING ,OFFICERS ARE NOT CONSISTENT IN SERVING ELECTORS WITH MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES ACROSS THE PROVINCE E4G4 IN LOCATING POLLS IN VARIOUS MENTAL HEALTHCARE FACILITIES4 ,MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS HAVE IDENTIFIED THAT PROXY VOTING IS UNREALISTIC FOR THE MAJORITY OF THEIR CLIENTS BECAUSE THEY HAVE LITTLE OR NO SUPPORT NETWORK IN THE COMMUNITY4 ,STAKEHOLDER ,RECOMMENDATIONS ,SPECIFICALLY DIRECT ,RETURNING ,OFFICERS ON HOW TO REVISE AND CONDUCT POLLS FOR RESIDENTS_/PATIENTS OF MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES4 ,,CMHA CONDUCTED AN INFORMAL #DA SURVEY OF ITS #CC BRANCHES TO C#AG IDENTIFY ISSUES AND SOLUTIONS--THE FOLLOWING WAS FORWARDED TO ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO3 ,PROVIDE SAMPLE FORMS 7BALLOTS1 INSTRUCTIONS1 ETC47 TO MENTAL HEALTH AGENCIES IN ADVANCE OF AN ELECTION SO THEY CAN WORK WITH THEIR CLIENTS TO REDUCE INTIMIDATION2 BRANCHES WOULD LIKE POSTERS AND VOTING INFORMATION ,TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE TO THE POLLS ,POLLING LOCATIONS WITH A QUIET AREA FOR VOTING1 AS SOME PATIENTS BECOME CONFUSED AND DISORIENTED IN NOISY LOCATIONS -------------------------------------#AH ,ASSISTANCE FROM A FRIEND 7WORKER OR SOME OTHER THIRD PARTY7 AT THE POLLING STATION TO HELP THEM CAST THEIR BALLOT 7NOTE THIS IS ALREADY COVERED UNDER THE .,ELECTION .,ACT IN ,SECTION #EE74 ,CONSIDER ADAPTING ,ELECTIONS #DB ,CANADA'S SPECIAL VOTING A#AH RULES PROGRAM FOR RESIDENTS OF MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES 7NOTE3 THIS WOULD LIKELY REQUIRE CHANGES TO CURRENT PROVINCIAL LEGISLATION74 ,ELECTORS WITH ,PHYSICAL ,DISABILITIES ,HIGHLIGHTS ,BARRIER-FREE ACCESS REPORTED BY ,RETURNING ,OFFICERS FOR ALL RETURNING OFFICES2 #II.E@3P OF REGULAR POLLS REPORTED BARRIER-FREE2 #AJJ ,RETURNING ,OFFICERS 7WITH #C OTHERS NOT REPORTING ON THIS AREA7 REPORTED FULLY ACCESSIBLE ADVANCE POLLS 7,SEE ,SECTION ,C74 ,INSIDE ALL POLLING PLACES1 VOTING SCREENS WERE TO BE PLACED TO ACCOMMODATE VOTERS WHO USE WHEELCHAIRS4 ,IN A LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY1 RETIREMENT HOME OR OTHER #DC INSTITUTION USED AS A POLLING B#AH PLACE1 THE BALLOT BOX WAS TO BE MOVED FROM BED TO BED AS REQUIRED4 ,WHERE POSSIBLE1 ,RETURNING ,OFFICERS SELECTED POLLING LOCATIONS ON ,ELECTION ,DAY THAT WERE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE2 VOTERS WITH RESTRICTED MOBILITY WERE ABLE TO APPLY FOR A TRANSFER IF THEY COULD VOTE MORE CONVENIENTLY AT ANOTHER POLLING LOCATION IN THEIR ELECTORAL DISTRICT4 ,DISCUSSION ,WHILE OUR CURRENT MEASURES SATISFY LEGISLATED REQUIREMENTS1 ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO IS COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH REPRESENTATIVE ORGANIZATIONS TO INTRODUCE PROGRESSIVE MEASURES THAT MINIMIZE BARRIERS TO ACCESS DURING AN ELECTION4 ,KEY ,ISSUES ,POLL LOCATIONS ARE NOT ALWAYS WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE1 GENERALLY DUE TO THE AVAILABILITY OF SPACE #DD WITHIN THE SHORT TIMEFRAME OF C#AH THE ELECTION CALL1 BECAUSE SITES HAVE BEEN MISTAKENLY REPRESENTED BY LANDLORDS TO ,RETURNING ,OFFICERS AS ACCESSIBLE OR1 INDEED1 BECAUSE THERE IS NO ACCESSIBLE LOCATION IN THAT PART OF THE ELECTORAL DISTRICT4 ,STAKEHOLDER ,RECOMMENDATIONS ,ELECTION OFFICIALS NEED TO PHYSICALLY AUDIT AND PRE-CHECK SITES TO ENSURE THEY ARE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE4 ,IN THE ABSENCE OF A GUARANTEED AVAILABILITY OF FULLY ACCESSIBLE SITES IN ALL ELECTORAL DISTRICTS1 ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO SHOULD LIAISE WITH STAKEHOLDER GROUPS TO ESTABLISH ELECTION-READINESS PLANS THAT ALLOW FOR THE LOCATION OF FULLY ACCESSIBLE SITES TO BE COMMUNICATED TO MEMBERS4 -------------------------------------#AI ,WHAT ,STAKEHOLDERS ,LEARNED ,ELECTION ,ONTARIO'S CONSULTATION WITH STAKEHOLDER GROUPS EMPHASIZES TWO- #DE WAY COMMUNICATION AND RECIPROCAL A#AI EDUCATION4 ,AS WE CONTINUE TO ASSIMILATE THE CHALLENGES ENCOUNTERED BY ELECTORS WHO ARE DISABLED1 WE ALSO STRIVE TO ENSURE REPRESENTATIVE ORGANIZATIONS ARE AWARE OF AND ABLE TO COMMUNICATE THE KEY ISSUES THAT FACE ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO IN MEETING DIVERSE NEEDS4 ,THUS1 THROUGH OUR ,OUTREACH ,PROGRAM1 OUR STAKEHOLDER PARTNERS HAVE LEARNED3 ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO DOES NOT ESTABLISH THE RULES AROUND THE ELECTION PROCESS OR A PARTICULAR ELECTION EVENT4 ,WE ARE BOUND BY THE MANDATES AND DIRECTIVES SET FORTH IN THE .,ELECTION .,ACT4 ,WHILE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHANGE MAY HAVE MERIT1 THE CURRENT LEGISLATION MAY PRECLUDE US FROM ACTING ON THEM4 ,SIMILARLY1 WE MUST ALSO ENSURE THAT1 IN ADOPTING CERTAIN POLICIES OR PRACTICES TO MEET A SPECIFIC NEED1 WE ARE NOT NEGATIVELY IMPACTING ON ANY OTHER ELECTORS4 #DF ,RETURNING ,OFFICERS HAVE LESS B#AI THAN A MONTH AFTER AN ELECTION CALL TO BOOK SPACE FOR ALMOST #AJ1JJJ POLLING LOCATIONS4 ,AS NOTED EARLIER1 ACCESSIBILITY OF RETURNING OFFICES AND POLLS IS SOMETIMES LIMITED BY THE AVAILABILITY OF SUITABLE SITES WITHIN ELECTORAL DISTRICTS AND POLLING AREAS WITHIN THE SHORT TIMEFRAME OF THE ELECTION PERIOD4 ,A PROVINCIAL ELECTION REQUIRES A VAST1 TEMPORARY WORKFORCE -- MORE THAN #FJ1JJJ WORKERS ARE NEEDED TO STAFF THE NEARLY #BC1JJJ POLLS REQUIRED ON ,ELECTION ,DAY4 ,THIS PRESENTS SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES IN ENSURING COMPLIANCE WITH BEHAVIOUR STANDARDS AND LEGISLATED REQUIREMENTS4 ----------------------------------#BJ-BA ,SECTION ,C--,RETURNING ,OFFICERS ,ACCESSIBILITY ,REPORTING ,SUMMARY OF ,REPORTS ,ONTARIO'S ,LIEUTENANT ,GOVERNOR #DG IN ,COUNCIL APPOINTS ONE A#BA ,RETURNING ,OFFICER 7,,RO7 FOR EACH ELECTORAL DISTRICT4 ,UNDER ,SECTION #EE.A 7#A7 THE .,ELECTION .,ACT1 ,ONTARIO'S #AJC ,RETURNING ,OFFICERS ARE REQUIRED TO REPORT ON ACCESSIBILITY AS FOLLOWS3 ..,WITHIN THREE MONTHS AFTER POLLING DAY IN THE ELECTION1 EVERY ,RETURNING ,OFFICER FOR AN ELECTORAL DISTRICT SHALL PREPARE A REPORT ON THE MEASURES THAT THE OFFICER HAS TAKEN TO PROVIDE ACCESSIBILITY FOR ELECTORS WITH DISABILITIES IN THE DISTRICT AND SHALL SUBMIT THE REPORT TO THE ,CHIEF ,ELECTION ,OFFICER4 #BJJA1 C4 #CB1 S4 #BD 7.#B74 ,SECTION #EE.A 7#B7 FURTHER INDICATES THAT1 8,THE ,CHIEF ,ELECTION ,OFFICER SHALL MAKE THE REPORT AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC40 ,ALL ,RETURNING ,OFFICERS COMPLETED THEIR INDIVIDUAL REPORTS ON THE #DH FOLLOWING AREAS PRIOR TO THE B#BA ,JANUARY #B1 #BJJD DEADLINE3 ,FACILITIES3 ,RETURNING ,OFFICE1 ,SATELLITE ,OFFICE7S71 ,TRAINING ,SITE7S71 ,ADVANCE ,POLLS1 ,REGULAR ,POLLS1 ,SPECIAL ,CARE ,FACILITIES ,PERSONNEL3 PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES EMPLOYED IN OFFICE _/ APPOINTED AS POLL OFFICIALS ,MATERIALS3 VOTER INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE IN RETURNING OFFICE1 AT VOTING LOCATIONS ,LOCAL OUTREACH WITH GROUPS REPRESENTING PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES WITHIN ELECTORAL DISTRICTS ,REQUESTS FOR ACCESS TO ,AMERICAN ,SIGN ,LANGUAGE ,INTERPRETERS ,FACILITIES #AJJ@3P OF RETURNING OFFICES REPORTED AS BARRIER-FREE2 TO ENSURE ACCESS3 #AD RETURNING OFFICES BUILT_/RENTED RAMP #AB TOOK ADDITIONAL MEASURES #DI E4G4 HAD CURB CUT1 PROVIDED C#BA DIRECTIONAL SIGNAGE TO ALTERNATE ENTRANCE1 MODIFIED FRONT DOOR OF OFFICE FOR ACCESSIBILITY1 INSTALLED COMMUNICATIONS UNITS AT ENTRANCES TO CALL FOR ASSISTANCE #AI OF #BJ SATELLITE OFFICES REPORTED AS BARRIER-FREE #ID ,,RO'S REPORTED ALL TRAINING FACILITIES BARRIER-FREE1 WITH #G OF THESE INDICATING THE NEED TO TAKE ADDITIONAL MEASURES TO ENSURE ACCESS #AJJ ,,RO'S REPORTED ALL ADVANCE POLLS BARRIER-FREE1 WITH #H OF THESE INDICATING THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL MEASURES TO ENSURE ACCESS 7THREE ,,RO'S DID NOT REPORT ON THIS AREA7 ,WITH REGARD TO THE #II.E@3P OF REGULAR POLLS REPORTED AS BARRIER-FREE3 #AC ,,RO'S REPORTED BUILDING_/RENTING RAMPS TO ENSURE ACCESS -------------------------------------#BB #FB REPORTED THE NEED TO MOVE THE BALLOT BOX TO ACCOMMODATE OLDER ELECTORS OR THOSE WITH #EJ DISABILITIES A#BB ,WITH REGARD TO LACK OF ACCESS FOR REGULAR POLLS1 REASONS PROVIDED TYPICALLY INCLUDED3 ,ONLY FACILITY AVAILABLE IN SMALL TOWN ,LANDLORD HAD ADVISED IT WAS ACCESSIBLE BUT IT WAS NOT ,FOLLOWING EARLIER INSPECTION1 FACILITY ACCESS CHANGED ,PRIVATE BUILDING FOR TENANTS ONLY ,OF THE NEARLY #BC1JJJ POLLS1 #HFD WERE HELD IN SPECIAL CARE FACILITIES1 WITH #GJ ,,RO'S REPORTING THAT BALLOT BOXES WERE REQUESTED AND CARRIED TO THE BEDSIDE4 ,PERSONNEL #BI ,,RO'S REPORTED EMPLOYING PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN THEIR OFFICES #GJ ,,RO'S REPORTED EMPLOYING PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AS POLL OFFICIALS4 ,MATERIALS ,ALL ,,RO'S REPORTED THEY PROVIDED VOTER GUIDES1 BALLOT TEMPLATES AND #EA NOTCHED BALLOTS TO POLL B#BB LOCATIONS TO ASSIST VOTERS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS1 AS WELL AS WHEELCHAIR ACCESS SIGNS TO INDICATE DISABLED ACCESSIBILITY AT EACH SITE ,WHILE #AJA ,,RO'S REPORTED PROVIDING INFORMATION IN LARGE PRINT TO ELECTORS1 #AJJ FORWARDED MAGNIFIERS AND #IE MADE INFORMATION AVAILABLE IN ,BRAILLE #IJ CONFIRMED THEY FORWARDED PICTOGRAPH POSTERS AND #GA MADE INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON CASSETTE OR REFERRED ELECTORS TO THE ,VOTER ,ASSISTANCE ,HOTLINE ON VOTING DAYS4 ,LOCAL ,OUTREACH ,APPROXIMATELY #DJ@3P OF ,,RO'S REPORTED CONTACT WITH GROUPS REPRESENTING PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES WITHIN THEIR ELECTORAL DISTRICTS 7NOTE THAT SOME ELECTORAL DISTRICTS DO NOT CONTAIN ACTIVE REPRESENTATIVE ORGANIZATIONS7 ,ONLY #A ,,RO REPORTED BEING CONTACTED TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO ,,ASL #EB INTERPRETERS1 WITH THE OTHER C#BB #AJB CONFIRMING THEY HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED4 ,KEY ,ISSUES ,WHILE ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO HAS DIRECTED ,RETURNING ,OFFICERS TO USE THE MEASURES AND MATERIALS PROVIDED TO ASSIST ELECTORS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS1 THERE IS STILL A GAP IN THEIR APPLICATION ACROSS ALL ELECTORAL DISTRICTS2 GOING FORWARD1 WE WILL ADDRESS WAYS TO INCREASE AWARENESS AMONG AND COMPLIANCE BY ALL ,RETURNING ,OFFICERS IN USING THE TOOLS AND PROCESSES AS DIRECTED4 ----------------------------------#BC-BD ,SECTION ,D--,OUTREACH IN #BJJD TO ,ELECTORS WITH ,DISABILITIES ,OUTREACH ,PROGRAM--#BJJD ,OVERALL1 THERE HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN DIVERSIFYING ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO'S APPROACH TO #EC FACILITATING FAIRNESS AND ACCESS A#BD TO THE ELECTION PROCESS4 ,OUR OUTREACH ACTIVITIES TO-DATE HAVE INDICATED SUCCESSFUL INITIATIVES THAT CAN BE FURTHER REFINED1 AS WELL AS OTHER POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT REQUIRE ADDITIONAL REVIEW AND LEARNING--BY BOTH ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO AND OUR PARTNERS-- PRIOR TO THE NEXT EVENT4 ,STRATEGIC ,APPROACH ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO IS EXCITED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL THE NEXT FOUR YEARS OFFERS TO FURTHER DEVELOP OUR ,OUTREACH ,PROGRAM AND ENHANCE ACCESS FOR ALL ELECTORS IN ,ONTARIO4 ,AS THIS PROGRAM MATURES1 WE WILL CONTINUE TO EVOLVE FROM AN INFORMATION_/FEEDBACK APPROACH TOWARDS PARTNERSHIPS WITH STAKEHOLDERS1 AND INVOLVE THEIR INPUT WHEREVER POSSIBLE IN THE IDENTIFICATION OF CHALLENGES AND ALTERNATIVES AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOLUTIONS4 ,TO GUIDE THE EVOLUTION OF THESE RELATIONSHIPS1 WE WILL ADOPT A #ED PHASED APPROACH2 IN THE COMING B#BD YEAR1 ,PHASE #A WILL FOCUS ON FURTHER DEFINING STAKEHOLDERS1 THEIR NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR MUTUAL DEVELOPMENT4 ,PHASE #A 7#BJJD-E7--,ENVIRONMENTAL ,SCANNING ,COMPILE ALL INTERESTS IN THE PROCESS AND THEIR CONCERNS ,ENLIST ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF STAKEHOLDER GROUPS AS COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE IN DEFINING ON A COLLABORATIVE BASIS3 ,OUTREACH OBJECTIVES AND DESIRED OUTCOMES ,ISSUES FOR DISCUSSION AND DEVELOPMENT ,METHODOLOGIES AND COOPERATIVE RESOURCES ,SUCCESS FACTORS ,MUTUAL EXPECTATIONS AND UNDERSTANDING OF JURISDICTIONAL PARAMETERS1 INCLUDING THOSE REGULATING ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO PRACTICES 7E4G4 ..,ELECTION ,ACT1 ,ELECTION ,FINANCES .,ACT7 #EE ,CONTINUE TO RESEARCH INITIATIVES C#BD AND BEST PRACTICES WITHIN OTHER PROVINCIAL AND INTERNATIONAL ELECTION AGENCIES4 ,PRIORITY ,REVIEW ,AS WE EMBARK ON ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO'S ,OUTREACH ,PROGRAM FOR #BJJD1 WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE KEY AREAS THAT REQUIRE FOCUS SPECIFICALLY WITH RESPECT TO ELECTORS WITH DISABILITIES3 ,REVIEW AND ASSESS KEY ISSUES1 OPPORTUNITIES AND RECOMMENDATIONS IDENTIFIED THROUGH #BJJC OUTREACH ACTIVITIES -------------------------------------#BE ,ADDRESS DIVERSE NEEDS WITHIN EACH GROUP 7E4G4 DIFFERENT ISSUES_/NEEDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAFENED VS4 THOSE WHO ARE DEAF SINCE BIRTH7 ,IDENTIFY EDUCATION AND TRAINING NEEDS FOR ,RETURNING ,OFFICERS1 ELECTION OFFICIALS AND POLL WORKERS1 ON SENSITIVITY AND ACCESSIBILITY #EF ISSUES AND REQUIREMENTS A#BE ,ENLIST STAKEHOLDER GROUPS' INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS TO INCREASE MESSAGING REACH AND EFFECTIVENESS ,INCLUDE ORGANIZATIONS SERVING ELECTORS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES2 OUTREACH IN THIS AREA WAS UNDER- REPRESENTED IN #BJJC4 ,STAFFING ,STRATEGY ,IN ,DECEMBER #BJJC1 ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO COMPLETED TRANSITION OF ITS OUTREACH INITIATIVES FROM EXPERT CONSULTANTS--WHO HAVE LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR A VIBRANT AND EFFECTIVE ,OUTREACH ,PROGRAM--TO 8IN-HOUSE0 FULFILLMENT BY OUR NEWLY EXPANDED ,COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT4 ,THE ,COMMUNICATIONS TEAM COMPRISES PROFESSIONALS WITH EXPERIENCE IN NON- PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS1 HEALTHCARE AND DISABILITY ISSUES1 ADVOCACY1 PUBLIC CONSULTATION AND EDUCATION1 COMMUNITY AND MEDIA RELATIONS1 GOVERNMENT RELATIONS1 ELECTION #EG ADMINISTRATION1 TRAINING AND B#BE EVENT MANAGEMENT4 ,WORK GROUPS WILL ADDRESS THE BARRIERS TO ACCESS AS A RESULT OF DISABILITIES AND_/OR RESIDENCE AND SEEK TO ESTABLISH WITH STAKEHOLDER PARTNERS COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE THAT ADDRESS DISTINCT CHALLENGES AND SUPPORT LONG-TERM1 ELECTION-READINESS PLANNING4 ,THIS 8GO-FORWARD0 APPROACH HAS MET WITH CONSIDERABLE SUPPORT DURING RECENT DEBRIEFING DISCUSSIONS WITH STAKEHOLDER GROUPS AND HAS PROMPTED ENTHUSIASM AMONG STAKEHOLDER PARTNERS IN WORKING WITH ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO TO3 ,ORIENT OUR ,OUTREACH TEAMS ON KEY ISSUES1 OPPORTUNITIES1 NEEDS AND BARRIERS ,WORK WITH US TO DEVELOP COOPERATIVE ELECTION READINESS PLANS SPANNING THE NEXT FOUR YEARS2 SIMILARLY1 EXPLORE AREAS FOR ECONOMY OF ACTION BETWEEN VARIOUS STAKEHOLDER GROUPS I4E4 TO SERVE OVERLAPPING OR COMMON NEEDS ,PROVIDE ADDITIONAL CONTACTS TO #EH EXPAND ,ELECTIONS ,ONTARIO'S C#BE OUTREACH DATABASE ,PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IN ENSURING THEIR MEMBERS_/CLIENTS PARTICIPATE IN OR ARE OTHERWISE REPRESENTED IN FUTURE PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION ,WORK TOGETHER TO REFINE OUR TACTICS AND MATERIALS FOR FUTURE EVENTS4 ,,THE ,,END #EI