As Ontarians head to the polls in a rare winter election, disability advocates say additional barriers created by snowy and icy conditions could have been avoided and are calling on the province to make voting more accessible. Back-to-back snowstorms hit many parts of the province this month and some cities are still working to clear […]
Ontario voters with disabilities encountered significant barriers during the winter election due to snowy and icy conditions, according to advocates. These challenges, such as inaccessible polling stations and difficulties in requesting home visits, could have been avoided, as highlighted by David Lepofsky and Khedr. Advocates suggest legislative measures to prevent winter elections and improved snow clearance by municipalities. While Elections Ontario offers some accommodations, such as assistive technology and contingency plans, online voting remains unavailable. Additionally, the short campaign period may have limited voter awareness of available options. Advocates emphasize the need for accessible voting to ensure full participation in democracy.
