It’s not too late to vote before election day on Thursday
Election day is almost here - and it is still possible to cast your ballot ahead of Thursday, even though advance voting has ended.
This year's advance voter turnout of more than one million people is up significantly from 2018, when nearly 700,000 voters turned up over five days of advance polls. This time around, Elections Ontario offered 10 days of advance voting and attracted nearly 10 per cent of eligible voters.
Election day is Thursday, and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., voters across the province can cast ballots.
To vote, you need to be at least 18 years old, a Canadian citizen and a resident of Ontario. And you need to be on Elections Ontario's voters list.
Here's how to vote this week and on June 2.
At a returning office
If you're not among the 1,066,545 who voted in advance, there is still an option to vote at your local returning office ahead of election day. Until 6 p.m. Wednesday, voters can head to their local office and vote in-person after showing a piece of ID, completing an application form and taking a declaration. You can find your local returning office at elections.on.ca.
By mail
You can no longer request a new mail-in ballot - but if you haven't sent one in that you already have, there's still time. If you are one of the more than 126,000 Ontarians who requested to vote by mail, your completed kit must be received by 6 p.m. Thursday to be counted, according to Elections Ontario. Kits can be dropped off at your returning office, or sent by mail.
From home or at your curb
For people with disabilities who need assistance voting, there are a couple of options. If you'd like to vote at a polling station but outdoors, you can contact your local returning office. On election day, officials will bring a ballot to you curbside.
Additionally, voters can arrange to vote from home, also by making arrangements with the returning office in their riding. In those instances, election officials will come to your home, check one piece of ID and give you an application form. Voters will then write in the name of their preferred candidate on a ballot and place it in an envelope. More information can be found on Elections Ontario's website.
A helpful new Elections Ontario app
Lost your voter card? Elections Ontario has launched a new app, which includes digital access to your voter information card and a list of all voting locations and dates. You can also see a full list of candidates running in your riding, alongside links - where available - to the candidate's website. To access your voter card, you must input your name and birthday, as well as your driver's license number.
Election day
Check your voting card to find out your polling station. Take the card and ID to vote. If you don't have a voting card, you can visit the Elections Ontario website to find your polling station. Go there on Thursday with ID that shows your name and residential address, and your name will be added to the voting list.
Jenna Moon is a general assignment reporter for the Star and is based in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @_jennamoon