This webpage is an FAQ page for the 2022 provincial election. 

Follow us on Instagram or Twitter (@ousahome) to stay up-to-date on election information and for some groovy & informative content! 

Questions? Keep scrolling...

1. WHEN ARE THE ELECTIONS?
2. HOW DO ELECTIONS WORK?
3. WHO CAN VOTE (ELIGIBILITY)?
4. WHEN CAN I VOTE?
5. IS THERE ANYTHING I NEED TO DO BEFORE THE ELECTION?
6. I LIVE IN ONTARIO, BUT I’M AWAY FOR SCHOOL. CAN I STILL VOTE FOR MY HOME RIDING?
7. I DON’T LIVE IN ONTARIO. CAN I STILL VOTE?
8. WHAT IS MY RIDING?
9. WHO IS RUNNING IN MY RIDING?
10. WHERE CAN I FIND MY CANDIDATE’S PLATFORM? A PARTY’S PLATFORM?
11. WHY DO WE VOTE?

1. WHEN ARE THE ELECTIONS

The Ontario provincial election is happening June 2, 2022.


2. HOW DO ELECTIONS WORK

For political purposes, Ontario is geographically split up into areas called ridings. In an election, members from different political parties want to represent an individual riding in provincial parliament (aka Queen’s Park). This means when you vote, you’ll be selecting who you want to represent your riding in parliament and the person with the most votes will become your riding’s Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP). The leader of the political party that wins the most ridings will be elected as premier! 


3. WHO CAN VOTE (ELIGIBILITY)?

To be eligible to vote in an Ontario provincial election, you must be 18 years of age or older, a Canadian citizen, and a resident of Ontario. If you are 16 or 17, you can pre-register now and vote when you turn 18.

If you are temporarily living outside of Ontario, you may be eligible to vote as an absentee voter.


4. WHEN CAN I VOTE?

While Election Day is June 2nd, there are advance polls you can vote at beforehand, in case you can’t make it on the day of. 

Advance polls will be open from 10am to 8pm between May 19 to May 28. You can find where and when to vote in advance in your riding online here at the Election Ontario website. After submitting your riding, head to the "Vote in Person Before Election Day" tab! Here, you will also find your Returning Office. You can also vote by Special Ballot anytime before May 19th at the Returning Office near you. 


5. IS THERE ANYTHING I NEED TO DO BEFORE THE ELECTION?

YES. Make sure you’re on the Voter’s List, and if you are, that your information is all correct! You can check using the link here.


6. I LIVE IN ONTARIO, BUT I’M AWAY FOR SCHOOL. CAN I STILL VOTE FOR MY HOME RIDING?

Yup! You can actually vote for the riding of your home address or for the riding where you’re living for school.

You’ll need ID (that has your name) and the Voter Information Card that will be mailed to you (to the addresses that Elections Ontario has on file for you as a part of the Voter’s List).

If you don’t have a Voter Information Card, no problem! You’ll need one piece of ID that has your name and address.

On-campus voting is only for those who live on-campus. 
   
   
7. I DON’T LIVE IN ONTARIO. CAN I STILL VOTE? 

Yes! You can vote by mail OR through the Register of Absentee Voters.

Vote by Mail
You will need:
   1. Vote by Mail Application (Applications will become available May 4th and close on May 26th); AND
   2. ID but what you will need depends on what you have. You can either provide:
   
   

   ONE government-issued ID that has your name and address. Examples include:

   1. Driver’s license
   2. Ontario Photo Card
   3. Statement of government benefits
   4. Statement of employment insurance
   5. T4 tax slip
   6. Income tax assessment
   7. Document issued or certified by an Ontario court

   OR 

   ONE government-issued ID with your name and ONE non-government-issued ID with name and address (this could be a transcript or phone bill)

Register of Absentee Voters
*This is for those living temporarily outside of Ontario, which includes students who are away for school. If you register as an absentee voter, you will receive a voting kit with a write-in ballot once the election is officially called on May 4th.

You will need:

   1. To fill out this form here; AND
   2. ID that shows your name and current/last residential address in Ontario - this includes a transcript, tuition/fees statement, campus residency document, or admission letter!
   3. Proof of your attendance at school, like:
      1. Enrolment letter
      2. Photocopy of student ID
      3. Photocopy of course or tuition invoice or transcript


8. WHAT IS MY RIDING?

You can find out right here! 


9. WHO IS RUNNING IN MY RIDING?

Now that you’ve looked up your riding, you can search the internet for “candidates running in the Ontario 2022 election” based on your riding! 

A complete list of nominated candidates will be available by riding through the Elections Ontario website on May 12, 2022 after 2 PM (Eastern Time).
   
   
   
10. WHERE CAN I FIND MY CANDIDATE’S PLATFORM? A PARTY’S PLATFORM?

Parties are rolling out platforms at various times, so you’ll have to keep an eye out for these!

We’ll try to add links to party platforms here as they’re released:
NDP
Green
Liberal

No platforms (yet!), but some announcements:
PC
    
    
11. WHY DO WE VOTE?

Stats show youth don't vote. Why not? Does your vote even matter? Read our attempt to answer this question on OUSA's blog here!