Election Accessibility

Consultation Initiatives

• Review comments from voters, candidates, and election workers regarding the 2018 Election.
• Consult with Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC) early for feedback on potential barriers and methods to overcome these barriers, and a review of the Election Accessibility Plan.
• Collaborate with individuals and community groups to increase understanding of providing an accessible election, and to receive feedback on this Plan.

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 2022 Municipal 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.

Candidate Initiatives

• Provide candidates with election information on how to make their campaigns accessible.
• Candidate information session(s) will be held in accessible location(s).
• Making alternative formats for information regarding a Candidate's campaign available upon request.
• Provide candidates with accessible resources upon request.

Voter Help Centre Initiatives

• Ensure election voting locations have adequate signage for easy navigation.
• The main entrance to the voting location will be accessible.
• Inspect and Enhance, ensuring walkability to voting locations and to reduce excessive distances between the parking lot and election voting locations.
• Establish voting places at retirement homes and institutions in accordance with the Act (if required) to assist voters.

Voting Process Initiatives

• Internet and telephone voting allows voters to cast their ballot from anywhere with an internet connection or telephone, whether the voter is coping with an illness, working days or nights, has a disability, or has trouble travelling.
• Internet and telephone voting method allows voters 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 voters to use translation software if they are more comfortable reading a different language.
• Internet and telephone voting means travel to polls is not necessary.
• Election staff will be trained to assist voters with a disability upon request.
• Notepads will be provided to increase communication to assist voters who are hard of hearing or deafened.
• Chairs or stools will be available at election voting locations for voters waiting in line who cannot stand for a prolonged period.
• Voters will be notified of an emergency or service disruption.

Training of Election Officials Initiatives

• Election staff will be trained on accessible voting options and processes.
• Election staff will be trained on assisting voters 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.

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.