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Home My WebLink AboutCLK 06-22 Report to Executive Committee Report Number: CLK 06-22 Date: September 6, 2022 From: Paul Bigioni Director, Corporate Services & City Solicitor Subject: 2022 Municipal Election Update -Information Report -File: A-1440 Recommendation: That Report CLK 06-22 regarding the 2022 Municipal Election, be received for information. Executive Summary: The 2022 Municipal Election will be held on Monday, October 24, 2022. Through By-law #7846/21, Pickering City Council approved the use of Internet Voting and Paper Ballots using Vote Tabulators, as the voting methods for the 2022 Municipal Election. These services are being provided by Dominion Voting Systems as approved through Council Resolution #678/21. This report is provided to update Council and the public on the particulars of the upcoming election including available voting opportunities, information on the designated Voter Assistance Centres and Voting Locations, as well as other pertinent general election information. Financial Implications: Any expenses related to the Election have been included and approved in the 2022 Budget. Discussion: The administration of municipal elections is governed by the Municipal Elections Act (the “Act”) and the municipal clerk, as Returning Officer, is responsible for the administration. Aside from approving the voting method that will be utilized for the election, municipal councils do not approve how the administration of the election is carried out. This information report is intended to provide an update on some facets of the election administration that have occurred to date and as a means to highlight important election information to the public. Voters’ List On September 1, 2022, the Voters’ List for the upcoming municipal election is available and electors may add, amend or remove their information on the Voters’ List up to the close of voting on Election Day. For this year’s Election, several options are available for electors to update their information on the Voters’ List. Electors can access an on-line portal, available on -aft;of- Pl(KERJNG CLK 06-22 September 6, 2022 Subject: 2022 Municipal Election Update Page 2 the City’s website, attend a designated Revision Centre, the Clerk’s Office in City Hall, or one of the designated Voter Assistance Centres or Voting Locations during the voting period. In order to be an eligible elector, on Election Day an individual must be: • 18 years of age or older; • a Canadian citizen; • a resident of Pickering (they or their spouse lives, rents or owns property in Pickering); and, • not otherwise prohibited by law from voting. The Voters’ List is an important facet of municipal elections and electors are encouraged to check to ensure their information is included and accurate so that they will receive a Voter Information Package. Voter Information Packages will be delivered to individual, eligible electors in late September/early October, and will contain all the necessary information needed to vote, including the unique Elector ID and Personal Information Number (PIN) required to access the internet voting site. As noted above, there are various ways in which an elector can verify their information on the Voters’ List and, in addition to the online portal available on the City’s website, the following represents the list of available Revision Centres where electors may attend in person: • All Pickering Public Library Branches during regular operating hours until October 14, 2022: • Central Library, One The Esplanade • George Ashe, 470 Kingston Road • Claremont, 4941 Old Brock Road • City Hall, City Clerk’s Office, One The Esplanade, during regular business hours, Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Once the voting period begins, electors will need to visit a designated Voter Assistance Centre or Voting Location to have their information added or corrected on the Voters’ List so that they can receive their Voter Information Package with their internet voting credentials. Voting Period and Voting Methods The voting period for this year’s election will be eight consecutive days beginning at 10:00 am on Monday, October 17, and ending at the close of polls on Election Day, Monday, October 24, 2022 at 8:00 pm. The available voting methods include the use of internet voting for the entire eight day voting period, and the use of paper ballots and vote tabulators on Election Day only. Electors can access the internet voting site on any device and from anywhere they have access to the internet. Electors are encouraged to vote early in the voting period and beat the Election Day rush. For paper ballot voting, a vote anywhere Election is being offered, meaning that electors can attend any designated Voting Location in the City no matter what ward they reside in. CLK 06-22 September 6, 2022 Subject: 2022 Municipal Election Update Page 3 The Internet Voting system is compliant with WCAG 2.0 Level AA accessibility standards through the use of standard HTML and JavaScript. Electors can use WCAG compliant screen readers, and ballot navigation via browser-based personal assistive devices, to cast their ballot independently. On Election Day, Assistive Voting Devices will also be offered at all Voting Locations so that electors with disabilities can cast a paper ballot independently. Voter Assistance Centres, Voting Locations, and Special Voting Locations Section 43 of the Act states that the Clerk shall establish the number and location of voting places, and the hours which the voting places shall be open. Section 45(1) of the Act further states the clerk shall establish the number and location of voting places for an election as he or she considers most convenient for the electors. During the first seven days of the voting period, Voter Assistance Centres will be available at the following locations to assist voters who may not have access to the internet, require assistance with the use of internet voting, did not receive a Voter Information Package, or who need to add or amend their information on the Voters’ List. The following locations will be available at the dates and times noted to assist electors with the internet voting process: Locations: • Chestnut Hill Developments Recreation Complex, 1867 Valley Farm Road • Dr. Nelson F. Tomlinson Community Centre, 4941 Old Brock Road • East Shore Community Centre, 910 Liverpool Road South • George Ashe Library & Community Centre, 470 Kingston Road West • Whitevale Community Centre, 405 Whitevale Road (Open on Oct. 17-18th and Oct. 23- 24th only) Days and Hours of Operation: • October 17 to October 21 – 1:30 pm to 7:30 pm • October 22 to October 23 – 10:30 am to 5:30 pm • October 24 (Election Day) – 10:00 am to 8:00 pm. On Election Day, all Voter Assistance Centres will be expanded into Voting Locations where both paper ballots, using vote tabulators, and internet voting will be available. In addition to the list of Voter Assistance Centres noted above, a sixth location at St. Mary Catholic Secondary School, located at 1918 Whites Road, will be available on Election Day only from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm. In accordance with the Act, special voting locations have also been established. Section 45(7) of the Act requires that a voting place be held on Election Day at an institution where 20 or more beds are occupied by persons who are disabled, chronically ill or infirm, and a retirement home where more than 50 beds are occupied. Special voting locations were determined utilizing the definitions under the Long Term Care Act, and Retirement Homes Act, as well as the property code definitions provided by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC). The following represents the list of CLK 06-22 September 6, 2022 Subject: 2022 Municipal Election Update Page 4 special voting locations that will be held on Election Day for the residents of those facilities only: •Abbeylawn Manor •Amica Pickering •Chartwell Pickering City Centre •Livita Parkway Retirement Residence •Orchard Villa Retirement Residence and Long Term Care Home •Revera Bay Ridges •V!VA Pickering Retirement Community Communication of Election Information Over the past several months, the Clerk’s Elections Team has undertaken an extensive communication plan to inform electors of key election information. Dedicated election webpages have been created on the City’s website and continue to be updated as the election planning progresses. Clerk’s staff have also been regularly attending the Farmer’s Market to educate electors on the voting methods, voting opportunities, verifying their information on the Voters’ List, recruitment of election officials and nomination of candidates. An election information brochure was also created and mailed to each household in the City to educate and inform the electorate on the upcoming election process. With the closing of nominations on Friday, August 19, 2022 at 2:00 pm, a complete list of certified candidates is posted on the City’s “Who’s Running” Election Webpage. Additional election messaging has been delivered through the City’s social media channels, digital signs, curbex signs, and the local newspaper. All the information contained in this report pertaining to the locations, dates, and times that Revision Centres, Voter Assistance Centres, and Voting Locations are available, is included on the City’s website at www.pickering.ca/PickeringVotes. A dedicated voter help-line has been established to address election related inquires. The help-line is currently available Monday to Friday, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, and these hours will be expanded during the voting period. The election help-line phone number is 905.420.4660 Ext. 8683 (VOTE). The Clerk’s Election Team continues to work toward the opening of the voting period and are focused on the recruitment and training of approximately 100 election officials, robust logic and accuracy testing of all voting equipment, keeping electors and candidates informed on all election related matters, and working with Dominion Voting to meet legislated and administrative deadlines for the project. A post-election report will be provided to Council which will include an overview of the 2022 Election and any areas that may be improved upon for future elections. CLK 06-22 September 6, 2022 Subject: 2022 Municipal Election Update Page 5 Attachments: 1.Not applicable Prepared By: Approved/Endorsed By: Susan Cassel Paul Bigioni City Clerk Director, Corporate Services & City Solicitor Recommended for the consideration of Pickering City Council Marisa Carpino, M.A. Chief Administrative Officer Original Signed By:Original Signed By: Original Signed By: