Advance polls in Simcoe North open Thursday; voter cards in the mail

Voter cards are in the mail this week, but you don't have to have a card to vote either in the advance polls Feb. 20, 21 or 22 or at your polling station on Election Day Feb. 27, says an Elections Ontario official.

"Everyone voting in advance polls or on Election Day is encouraged to check the location of their poll before they go to vote by entering their postal code in Voter Information Service on elections.on.ca, by downloading the Elections Ontario app or by consulting their Voter Information Card which is being mailed this week to all registered voters," said Laura Sylvis, team lead, media relations for Elections Ontario.

The Elections Ontario app is essentially an electronic voter information card, she explained.

"In it you can put your information in, and you can have a digital voter information card right there in your app. You can pull it up on the screen, people can scan it. It will also show your district, candidates and where and how to vote," said Sylvis.

Voting isn't a difficult process, said Sylvis.

"The bottom line with the election is if you are a citizen, you are 18 or over and you are a resident of Ontario, show up with a couple of pieces of ID and you can vote. It doesn't matter if you have the card," she said.

Voters do have to go to their designated polling station. That polling station can be found through the voter card, through elections.on.ca, Elections Ontario website and through the Elections Ontario app.

If you are not registered to vote, you can still vote by bringing identification, such as a driver's licence, showing your name and address to officials at the polling site.

There are multiple advance polling stations in our riding. Advance polls are open Feb. 20 to 22 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Advance polling stations in Simcoe North. 

1. Best Western - Mariposa Inn and Conference Centre, 400 Memorial Ave., Orillia
2. Coldwater Community Centre at 11 Michael Anne Dr., Coldwater.
3. Knights of Huronia, 17 Poyntz St., Penetanguishene.
4. Lagoon City Community Centre at 84 Laguna Parkway, Brechin.
5. North Simcoe Sports and Recreation Centre at 527 Len Self Blvd., Midland
6. Orillia Square Mall at 1029 Brodie Dr., Severn Township
7. The Place Community Centre at 300 Balm Beach Rd. W. in Tiny Township
8. Washago Community Centre at 4361 Hamilton St., Washago. 

Mail in voting

Until Feb. 21 – Submit your application to vote by mail by 6 p.m. Apply online or download an application at elections.on.ca. Voters’ completed mail-in ballots must be received at Elections Ontario by 6 p.m. on Feb. 27 to be counted.

Electoral office for Simcoe North

The electoral office for Simcoe North, which coordinates the local election, is at 210 Memorial Ave, Orillia, 1-833-505-3412. It is open Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. It is open for in-person voting until Feb. 26 at 6 p.m. You can use assistive voting technology at your local election office.  Anyone needing an election official to come to their home so they can vote needs to contact the office to make arrangements.

Hospital Voting

From Feb. 17 to 19, election officials are visiting participating hospitals with voting kits.

Election Day Feb. 27

Visit voterinformationservice.elections.on.ca for your assigned voting location. Assistive voting available at your local election office by appointment.

For more information about the candidates and issues in Simcoe North, visit our election page.