Whitby-Oshawa provincial by-election has been called for February 11, 2016

TORONTO, Jan. 13, 2016 /CNW/ - Ontario's Chief Electoral Officer Greg Essensa confirms that the Writ was issued to administer a provincial by-election in the electoral district of Whitby-Oshawa on February 11, 2016.

The returning office in Whitby-Oshawa will be open to the public as of January 14, 2016. The address and telephone number for the returning office are listed below:

3050 Garden Street
Whitby, Ontario
L1R 2G7
Telephone: [phone]

Canadian citizens who reside in the electoral district of Whitby-Oshawa and are at least 18 years of age or older on Thursday February 11, 2016, are eligible to vote. To be added to the Voters List, eligible voters must show one piece of identification that includes both their name and residential address.

In this by-election, Elections Ontario will be piloting a new poll model at 42 voting locations on Election Day. The new poll model is designed to save voters time at the poll, reduce staffing requirements and help to modernize the voting process in Ontario.

Key Dates

A blackout on political advertising begins Wednesday January 13, 2016 and ends at 11:59 PM (ET) on Tuesday January 19, 2016. A second blackout on political advertising begins at midnight on Tuesday February 9, 2016 (ET) and ends at 11:59 PM (ET) on Thursday February 11, 2016.

Candidate nomination period begins Thursday January 21, 2016 and ends at 2PM (ET) on Thursday January 28, 2016.

Eligible voters can vote by special ballot in person at the Whitby-Oshawa returning office or by mail. Electors must apply for their special ballot voting kit no later than 6 PM (ET) on Friday February 5, 2016. Applications are available at elections.on.ca and at the returning office.

Advance polls begin Saturday January 30, 2016 and are available through Friday February 5, 2016. Advance polls are open from 10 AM to 8 PM (ET).

Election Day is Thursday February 11, 2016. Election day polls are open from 9 AM to 9 PM (ET).

The publication of election surveys that have not previously been made public is prohibited between midnight (ET) on Wednesday February 10, 2016 and 9 PM (ET) on Thursday February 11, 2016.

For more information, visit elections.on.ca or call 1-888-668-8683 (TTY: 1-888-292-2312).

Elections Ontario is the non-partisan agency responsible for administering provincial elections, by-elections and referenda.

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SOURCE Elections Ontario

For further information: For media inquiries: Elections Ontario Media Relations, 416-212-6186 / 1-866-252-2152, [e-mail]