Voting Now Closed
Voting is now closed for Woolwich Township. Election results were posted after 8:15 pm on October 23, 2018.
Accessibility Plan
The Multi-Year Accessibility Plan sets out the Township’s commitment to:
- fostering a more inclusive community, and
- allowing persons with disabilities full participation in the community.
The Clerk is committed to conducting an election that accommodates, encourages participation and inspires the confidence of persons with a disability.
Election Accessibility Plan
The Election Accessibility Plan supports full and equal access to electoral services for persons with disabilities and pro-actively addresses accessibility barriers for the 2018 municipal election. This plan will be monitored and improved or updated as best practices are identified and new opportunities for improvement arise to respond to feedback from the community.
For the complete Election Accessibility Plan see the 2018 Municipal Election Procedures.
| 1. Consultation Initiatives |
- Review comments from electors, candidates, and election workers regarding the 2014 election.
- Consult with Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC) early for feedback on potential barriers and methods to overcome these barriers.
- Collaborate with individuals and community groups to increase understanding of providing an accessible election and to receive feedback on this plan.
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| 2. Communication Initiatives |
- Provide election information in an accessible format and provide alternative formats upon request and free of charge.
- Provide election information that is informative, clear, and easy to understand.
- A section of the Township’s election website will be dedicated to accessibility.
- The Township’s election website will receive continuous updates before and throughout the 2018 election.
- Ensuring web pages are W3C Consortium WCAG 2.0 Level AA Compliant.
- Collaborate with disability groups and networks to help disseminate election information through the Township’s website, social media, etc.
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| 3. Candidate Initiatives |
- Provide candidates with election information on how to make their campaigns accessible and election information that is accessible.
- Candidate information session(s) will be held in accessible location(s).
- Making alternative formats for information regarding a candidates’ campaign available upon request.
- Provide candidates with accessible resources upon request.
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| 4. Election Help Centre Initiatives |
- Inspect election help centre locations to ensure all are accessible.
- Ensure election help centres have adequate signage for easy navigation.
- The main entrance to the election help centre will be accessible.
- Enhance walkability to election help centre locations and to reduce excessive distances between the parking lot and election help centre locations.
- Establish voting places at retirement homes and institutions in accordance with the Act (if required) to assist electors.
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| 5. Voting Process Initiatives |
- Internet and telephone voting allows electors to cast their ballot from anywhere with an internet connection or telephone, whether the elector is coping with an illness, working days or nights, has a disability or has trouble travelling.
- Internet and telephone voting method allows electors to vote using accessibility features like screen magnifiers, brightness or high contrast views, screen readers, TTY telephone assistance or any other assistive device they may use at home.
- Internet voting method allows electors to use translation software if they are more comfortable reading a different language.
- Internet and telephone voting means travel to polls is not necessary, but Election Help Centers will be available to assist voters.
- Election staff will be trained to assist voters with a disability upon request.
- Notepads will be provided to increase communication to assist electors who are hard of hearing or deafened.
- Chairs or stools will be available at election help centers for electors waiting in line who cannot stand for a prolonged period.
- Electors will be notified of an emergency or service disruption.
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| 6. Training of Election Officials Initiatives |
- Election staff will be trained on with accessible voting options and processes.
- Election staff will be trained on assisting electors with a disability upon request.
- Election staff will be trained not to restrict service persons or animals who are assisting a person with a disability once any necessary oaths are taken.
- Elections workers will be provided accommodations upon request to ensure training is accessible to all election workers.
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| 7. Post-election Accessibility Report |
- After the election, the Township will release a post-election report assessing initiatives to address accessibility barriers and determine if the initiatives can be improved and/or continued in subsequent elections.
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Input and Feedback
The Clerk encourages input and feedback to further enhance election accessibility. If you feel you have identified a barrier, have a recommendation to improve accessibility for the upcoming election or any other election feedback, please contact us using the contacts below.
