NDP CALLS FOR TENANT POLLING STATIONS

ST. PAUL’S – Julian Heller, NDP Candidate for St. Paul’s, says an Elections Ontario plan to leave 80 per cent of tenants without a polling station in their building will decrease voter turnout.

“When half of eligible voters don’t cast a ballot we have a serious problem. People lead hectic lives and Elections Ontario should be making it easier for people to vote – instead, they’re making it harder,” said Heller. “Tenants are very concerned, particularly about the impact of the HST. Their voices should be heard.”

In the 2003 election, Elections Ontario introduced special polling stations in complexes that have more than 100 units. Voters in these buildings could vote in the lobby of their building. The innovation was successful and voter turnout increased – dramatically so in these buildings. The riding of St. Paul’s has one of the highest percentages of apartment and multi-unit dwellings in the province.

Even though Elections Ontario has identified 97 buildings in St. Paul’s that need polling stations they only plan to establish 16 on September 17.

According to Election Ontario’s own data, only 39 per cent of eligible voters cast their vote in Ontario’s last by-election in the electoral district of Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock.

“People are struggling to balance their families, jobs and commutes. We can’t ignore that come election time. They have a right to vote,” said Heller. “Elections Ontario should do everything it can to fulfill its mandate and increase voter turnout.”

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Media inquiries: Massimo Panzino, 416 545-0365
                         Julian Heller Campaign Office