“Elections in this province have a long and fascinating history,” said Greg Essensa, chief electoral officer of Ontario. “Now, instead of one day to vote, Ontarians have 29 days to choose from and eligible voters can select the option that best suits their needs.”
Historical highlights of provincial general elections in Ontario include:
1867: Only 13 per cent of the population was eligible to vote in the province of Ontario's first election.
1867: An elector may have had to travel as much as three days by horse to vote.
1919: First provincial election where women had the right to vote.
1919: Allan Dymond was appointed the first Chief Electoral Officer.
1954: Aboriginal electors in Ontario could vote without having to renounce their treaty rights.
1971: The voting age was lowered from 21 to 18 years old.
2011: The first provincial general election where voters can choose to vote using assistive voting technology or to cast a special ballot by mail.
The increased number of voting options and enhanced outreach to voters is all part of Elections Ontario's strategy to put electors first. Learn more about where, when or how to vote, or to download the More Days More Ways catalogue of voting options to plan for a personalized voting experience that meets your needs online at wemakevotingeasy.ca.
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