Pickering residents can cast their ballot in this year's municipal election from home, with online voting opening at 10 a.m. on Monday, October 19 and running until 8 p.m. on election day, October 26, the City of Pickering announced.
The week-long window means electors can vote at any hour from a phone, tablet or computer with an internet connection — right up to the moment polls close on election day itself.
According to the city, voting from home takes three things: an internet-connected device, the Voter Information Package that was mailed out on October 5, and the elector's full date of birth.
Each package contains the address of the voting website and a personal identification number unique to that elector. The PIN, paired with the date of birth, is what unlocks the online ballot.
Electors who have not received a package, or who have misplaced it, can get a replacement by visiting a Revision Centre, a Voter Assistance Centre or any voting location in the city.
Voters who prefer a traditional paper ballot can mark one in person on election day itself. Paper voting will be available at any designated voting location in Pickering.
Those showing up in person are asked to bring identification showing both their name and their qualifying Pickering address.
Whether electors vote online or on paper, the deadline is the same: both the virtual and physical ballot boxes close at 8 p.m. on October 26.
Full details about voting locations, hours and procedures are posted at pickering.ca/vote. Electors with questions can also call the city at 905.420.4660, extension 8683.
Because online voting opens on Thanksgiving Monday, residents spending the holiday with family can mark their ballot at the same time — no trip to a polling station required.
