Backgrounders

Programs and Services for Persons with Special Needs

Elections Canada offers information, education and accessibility services to persons who have a disability, seniors, persons with limited reading and writing skills, and persons living in transitional situations (homeless or living in a shelter for victims of abuse). Material is available in alternative formats: large print, Braille, audiocassette and diskette (for talking computers).

Among the services provided by Elections Canada for persons with a disability are:

• information, e-mail access, and special ballot registration forms available on the Internet at www.elections.ca
   
• documents specifically for persons with disabilities including reading difficulties
   
• open- and closed-captioned videotapes for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing
   
• a voting template for persons with a visual disability
   
• a toll-free information line for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing:
  TTY 1 800 361-8935 (toll-free in Canada and the United States)
   
• mobile polling stations for certain types of institutions as specified by the Canada Elections Act, where seniors or persons with disabilities reside
   
• a special ballot, which allows early voting by mail, or in person at the office of the returning officer, or at home in the case of electors who cannot read or cannot go to the office of the returning officer because of a physical disability
   
• help with registration at the advance polls and election day polling stations
   
• flexible options for voting at advance polls and election offices with guaranteed level access
   
• Elections Canada takes every measure, where possible, to select level-access polling sites. Accessibility is indicated on the voter information card.
   
• transfer certificates permitting electors who use wheelchairs or who have other physical disabilities to vote at facilities providing level access if, in exceptional cases, their own polling sites do not provide this
   
• assistance available at the request of the elector to mark the ballot at the polling station (ordinary or advance), or at the office of the returning officer
   
• transportation of the ballot box from room to room to facilitate voting in hospitals and certain residential institutions
   
• language or sign language interpreter services on request

Between electoral events, staff at Elections Canada in Ottawa provide ongoing information and education services. During an election or referendum period, requests for information are answered by Elections Canada in Ottawa or referred to the office of the returning officer in the appropriate riding.

Before an election or referendum, Elections Canada provides training sessions for all returning officers across the country on accessibility and awareness of special needs.

For more information, please contact:

Elections Canada
257 Slater Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0M6

Telephone

1 800 463-6868
toll-free in Canada and the United States

001 800 514-6868
toll-free in Mexico

(613) 993-2975
from anywhere in the world

For people who are deaf or hard of hearing:
TTY 1 800 361-8935
toll-free in Canada and the United States

Fax

(613) 954-8584
1 888 524-1444
toll-free in Canada and the United States

This publication is available in alternative formats.

February 2005