Accessibility

All staff carrying out election duties will be trained to recognize and ensure that persons with disabilities are served in a way that accommodates their needs. 

Internet and telephone voting means that travelling to a voting location is unnecessary, but Election Assistance Centres (EAC) will be available throughout the municipality to assist voters. Clarington has 14 EACs available to assist electors during the voting period. In addition, Clarington Public Library locations are also available to assist voters.

Each location has been inspected for accessibility.

Accessible parking

You will find designated or reserved parking as close to the entrance of the voting place as possible. Accessible parking spaces (minimum of two) will be clearly visible and marked. Additional accessible parking spaces will be provided if possible.

Entrances to Election Assistance Centres

Where the EAC has steps to the entrance, ramps will be provided to assist you.

In locations where the entrance doors do not have auto-openers, the doors will be propped open in a safe manner, or an Election Official will be assigned to operate the door for all electors entering and exiting the voting place who may need assistance.

Inside Election Assistance Centres

Access to the interior of the EAC will be level and easy to navigate, and seating will be made available. Accessible voting booths will be available at each EAC. 

Special voting locations (Nursing homes / Long-term care facilities)

The following six special voting locations have reduced hours, on Voting Day, for voting and are designated only for the use of eligible electors who reside at these institutions:

• White Cliffe Terrace Retirement Residence
• Fosterbrooke Long-Term Care Facility
• Glen Hill Strathaven Lifecare Centre
• Seasons Clarington Retirement Community and DSCC217
• Lakeridge Health Bowmanville (Long-term Care only)
• Bowmanville Creek Retirement Community

The following voting tools will be available at all EACs:

• Magnifying sheets.
• Raised voting booths.

The online voting system has accessibility features for the visually impaired.

Voters can be accompanied by a support person or a service animal, such as a guide dog, to all EACs, including voting compartment areas.

Election Officials at each EAC may assist you in casting your vote. Before entering the voting booth, you can advise the Election Official of your needs and the best way they can assist you. This may include asking the Election Official to actually mark the electronic ballot as you select your candidate. All Election Officials are sworn to an Oath of Secrecy.

Residents who require information and copies of election documents in an alternate accessible format may contact the Municipal Clerk’s Office.

If there is a temporary disruption in the delivery of election information or services, a notice will be posted on the main page of this website and, if possible, in the local media. The notice will include the reason for the disruption, anticipated duration, and a description of alternative methods of delivering the information or service. We will make every effort to provide alternative information or service to persons with disabilities. We will continue to update information throughout the service interruption.

As mandated by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the 2022 Municipal Elections includes a variety of accessibility measures to ensure they are inclusive. The 2022 Municipal Elections Accessibility Report outlines those measures.

• View the Post-Election Accessibility Report (PDF)

We encourage voters to provide feedback about Clarington’s elections services, accessibility measures and interaction with elections officials. This feedback may be submitted to the Municipal Clerk by:

Phone
905-697-4747

In-person or by mail
Municipality of Clarington
Municipal Clerk's Division
40 Temperance Street, 2nd Floor
Bowmanville, ON L1C 3A6

Email
votes@clarington.net

The feedback form is also available at all Election Assistance Centres. All feedback will be forwarded to the Municipal Clerk's Division for review and follow-up. In addition, staff working in municipal facilities can complete the feedback form and submit it on behalf of an individual if required.

Alternatively, the form may be printed and provided to the person for manual completion. Each completed form is reviewed by Municipal staff who will respond to the candidate or elector directly within three business days providing a response and corrective measures where possible.

The feedback process provides election staff with an opportunity to take corrective measures to prevent similar recurrences, address training needs, enhance service delivery and provide alternative methods of providing election services.

• Accessible Elections Policies and Procedures C07-11 (PDF)
• Accessible Campaign Information and Communication
• Accessible All Candidates Meetings
• Accessible Constituency, Riding Association, Central Party and Campaign Offices
• Clarington Accessible Elections Plan (PDF)