Poll Officials
The Returning Officer appoints a deputy returning officer and a poll clerk for each polling place, meaning hundreds of workers are needed in your electoral district for Polling Day.
To provide for appointments representing more than one political interest, the Returning Officer will try to appoint the deputy returning officer from a list provided by the candidate of the registered party of the government of the day. The Returning Officer will try to appoint the poll clerk from a list provided by the candidate of a different party that, in the last election or by-election received the highest or next highest number of votes. The List of Qualified Persons to Serve at the Election (F0404) must be submitted to the Returning Officer by Day 11 or earlier.
The Returning Officer is not required to hire persons who he/she believes are unlikely to perform their duties satisfactorily. If the Returning Officer is unable to fill poll official positions from the candidates’ lists, he/she may recruit from the general public. While the priority is to hire workers who are qualified electors residing in the electoral district, if the Returning Officer is still unable to fulfill requirements, the Chief Electoral Officer may permit hiring from outside the electoral district.
NOTE: The Returning Officer appoints poll officials on the 10th day before polling day, but may do so earlier if candidates advise in writing that they will be unable to supply a list of sufficient poll officials. This advance notice provides Returning Officers more time to recruit and train officials who will be serving electors on polling day.
In the Polling Place
Please make sure your team is aware of conduct in polling places as guided by the Election Act and the authority of the Chief Electoral Officer.
The only persons permitted to remain in a polling place are electors in the process of voting, the deputy returning officer, poll clerk, candidates and not more than one scrutineer per poll for each candidate at any one time.
- The only persons permitted to remain in a polling place are electors in the process of voting, the deputy returning officer, poll clerk, candidates and not more than one scrutineer per poll for each candidate at any one time.
- Exceptions to the above are minimal and relate to persons providing care-giving or assistance to electors with special needs, or officials designated by the Chief Electoral Officer.
- Candidates may receive authorization to film the casting of their ballot, but only with PRIOR permission arranged through the returning officer. Poll officials may not permit media into the poll without proof of permission.
- Still/video cameras are not permitted in the polling place without advance permission. Media will be advised in advance that they must make direct, prior arrangements with and receive written consent from Elections Ontario before being admitted to a poll.
- Cell phones are permitted in the polling place only if they do not disrupt the normal and orderly proceeding of the poll; specifically they must be turned off or left in “vibrate” mode, and all calls must be placed or answered outside the polling place.
- No person may interfere with an elector or attempt to obtain information as to the candidate for whom the elector is about to vote or has voted.
- Anything that identifies a party or candidate, such as pamphlets, clothing, hats, accessories, signs or buttons, is not permitted at polling places and the premises around the locations. These areas will be checked regularly for political logos and materials.
- The deputy returning officer is the final arbiter and may take whatever action is deemed necessary to preserve the secrecy of the ballot and maintain peace and order in the polling place. Persons acting in contravention of the Election Act may be required to leave the voting location.
Premises Around a Polling Place
Conduct in the polling place extends to the premises around the polling place. For both private and public sites, “premises” includes the parking lot, adjoining fences and adjacent sidewalks and road allowances. When a poll is located on public premises, the entire property of the polling place and all the boundaries associated with it are considered part of the premises. Election officials have been instructed to remove signage from these areas.
If a polling place is located on private premises, such as an apartment building, all common elements of the building are considered part of the polling place premises. Individual units and their doors, windows and balconies are not considered part of the common elements.
Elections Ontario rents a specific location for voting and the Chief Electoral Officer has no jurisdiction over activity beyond the premises on adjacent properties.
Results
After completing their tabulations at the polling place on Election Night, poll officials will phone in and then deliver their results to the returning office. These results are unofficial and will also be posted live on Elections Ontario’s web site.
The date and time of the Official Tabulation is printed on the Notice to Voters. You or a designate may be present at the Official Tabulation, held in the returning office. These figures are used to compile the official poll results. If no application is made for a judicial recount, the Returning Officer will submit the official return to the Chief Electoral Officer.
The date and time of the Official Tabulation is printed on the Notice to Voters. You or a designate may be present at the Official Tabulation, held in the returning office. These figures are used to compile the official poll results. If no application is made for a judicial recount, the Returning Officer will submit the official return to the Chief Electoral Officer.