To help you get a better understanding of what it will be like on the day you cast your ballot, here’s a description of the people who will be working there. And of course, what you will do when you get there!
Poll officials
The people who work at a polling place are referred to as poll officials.
To take the vote and manage the process, there are two election officials at each polling place: the Deputy Returning Officer and the Poll Clerk. They use the Voters List for their poll and carefully record the events of the day in their Poll Book.
At all advance polls and at most election day polls, you will also find a Revision Assistant. They are available to assist voters who wish to have their names added to the Voters List.
In addition, candidates or their representatives – known as scrutineers– may be present to observe the voting process.
Voting
The same voting procedure is used in every poll in Ontario during a provincial election.
When you arrive at your poll, you will proceed to the table where the Deputy Returning Officer and the Poll Clerk are seated.
Even if your name is already on the Voters List, you must take proof of identity to the poll when you go to vote.
The poll officials will locate your name and address on the Voters List, cross it off, enter your elector number into the Poll Record, and hand you two folded ballots. If you have a Certificate to Vote you will exchange it for a ballot and your name will be entered into the Poll Record.
You will then proceed to the voting screen and mark your ballot in privacy.
You return the marked and refolded ballots to the poll officials who verify by checking the back of the ballots that they are the same ones that were originally given to you.
The ballots are then returned to you. You then place your ballots in the ballot box.
So, what happens after the polls close?