Ready to cast your vote? Advance polls for the federal election open today.
Advance voting runs Friday, Sept. 10 to Monday, Sept. 13 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The location of the poll to vote at is available on the voter information card that is received by mail. People can also find their polling station online here.
Voting can also be done by special ballot in person at the Elections Canada office before 6 p.m. on Sept. 14. In Orillia, the office is located at the Fittons West Centre at 425 Fittons Rd. in Suites 14-15. The office is open from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. Monday to Friday; 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 4 on Sundays.
More on the process to vote by special ballot is available here.
Election day is Monday, Sept. 20.
To vote, you must be at least 18 years old on election day.
At the polling station, people will be asked for ID. There are three options for this:
- Option 1 - Show your driver's licence or any other government-issued ID with your photo, name and current address. The ID can be from the federal, provincial or local government.
- Option 2 - Show two pieces of ID with your name. At least one must have your current address. Examples of what's accepted are your voter information card and bank statement, or a utility bill and student ID card. A list of accepted ID is available here.
- Option 3: People with no ID can declare their identity and address in writing and have someone they know and who is assigned to their polling station vouch for them. The voucher must be able to prove their identity and address and can only vouch for one person, except in long-term care facilities.
You can check to see if you're registered to vote online here or by contacting your local Elections Canada office. You can call 1-800-463-6868 for more information.
“We may be using non-traditional polling locations,” chief electoral officer Stéphane Perrault said. “The voter information card will give electors all the information they need to plan their safe voting experience.”
For mail voting, people can apply up until Sept. 14 at 6 p.m. You can apply online or by contacting an Elections Canada Office. Applicants will be sent a special voting kit. Mail-in ballots must be returned by Sept. 20 at 6 p.m.
“Electors voting by mail should plan ahead,” the agency said. “They must allow time for their voting kit to reach them and for their marked ballot to be returned."
Nancee A. Adams is the returning officer for Simcoe North. To contact the local office, call 1-866-281-5126.
There are six candidates seeking election in Simcoe North: Adam Chambers (Conservative), Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux (Liberal), Janet-Lynne Durnford (NDP), Krystal Brooks (Green Party), Stephen Makk (People's Party of Canada) and Russ Emo (Christian Heritage Party).
To read profiles of each candidate and to check out their answers to five key questions posed by OrilliaMatters and more coverage, visit our CanadaVotes 2021 page.
--With files from Joseph Quigley and Maija Hoggett
