TORONTO, May 13, 2004 – Ontario’s Chief Election Officer has announced the extension of polling hours at Lake Avenue School and St. Joan of Arc School following a police investigation at Centennial and Barton that required voting to be halted for five minutes this afternoon.
The Chief Election Officer, John Hollins, has directed the returning officer for Hamilton East, Joyce Newman, to extend polling hours to 8:05 p.m. this evening at the affected locations. Polls for which hours were extended include 164, 171, 172, 173, 174 and 175 at Lake Avenue School located at 157 Lake Ave. N. and 158, 159, 160, 161, 162 and 163 at St. Joan of Arc School at 60 Barlake Ave. No results from the Hamilton East by-election will be reported until the above polls close at 8:05 p.m.
Section 40 (4) of the Ontario Election Act provides for the Chief Election Officer to extend the closing time of a poll if polling is interrupted during polling hours. Polling hours normally run from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST.
Media Contacts:
Elections Ontario Media Centre:
416.212.6186 / 1.866.252.2152
media@electionsontario.on.ca