Elections Ontario helps hospital patients vote

Elections Ontario is trying to make voting easier for those who can't make it to the polls June 12, like Allison Hayes.

Hayes has been voting in both federal and provincial elections since she was 18, but this year was different.

She's been in isolation in the hospital for the past month.

"Since the election is next week and I'm scheduled to be in the hospital until next week I wouldn't have an opportunity to vote," said Hayes.

She said she was surprised when a worker with Elections Ontario stopped by her room.

"He sanitized his hands and put on a mask," she said. "He explained to me if I wanted to vote I had a right to vote and they would bring the polling station to me."

She said this made her feel valued.

"There's a lot of things you can't do in a hospital," she said. "Even though, as a citizen, I know I'm important, you don't necessarily feel like you're that important to get that kind of special service where they would come to you."

Making voting more accessible is part of a pilot project launched in Ontario's last election.

2011 had the lowest voter turnout in history, with only 49 per cent of those eligible casting a ballot.

In hopes of getting more people out this time around, special polling stations are set up for the deaf and blind.

Home visits are also available for those with disabilities until June 11.

In Windsor's hospitals, trained volunteers who already work there are selected to go room to room.

On Wednesday, an elections Ontario team is helping patients vote at Htel-Dieu Grace.

There will also be a special table set up at the Neuro-behavioural Institute.

On voting day, a mobile-polling station will be set up at the Dr. Emara Centre for Healthy Aging and Mobility, where scrutineers will help a patient vote if a family member puts in a request.