4.4 (1) The Chief Electoral Officer may, in consultation with registered parties, direct that the voting process established by this Act be modified in accordance with this section.  2010, c. 7, s. 4. Objectives (2) The objectives of modifications under this section are: 1.  Improving the voting process for electors. 2.  Achieving administrative efficiencies. 3.  Maintaining the integrity of the voting process.  2010, c. 7, s. 4. Example (3) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), the following is an example of the modifications this section permits the Chief Electoral Officer to make: 1.  If one polling location includes two or more polling places, the returning officer may, i.  assign to one deputy returning officer or poll clerk the duties that this Act would otherwise assign to two people, and ii.  appoint additional deputy returning officers, poll clerks or both to assist electors in the voting process.  2010, c. 7, s. 4. Exceptions (4) The following matters shall not be modified under this section: 1.  The requirement that there be both a deputy returning officer and a poll clerk at a polling location that includes only one polling place. 2.  The rights and duties of scrutineers. 3.  The requirement that each elector place his or her ballot in the ballot box of the elector’s polling place.  2010, c. 7, s. 4. Same (5) No requirement for accessibility under this Act, the Human Rights Code or the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 shall be modified under this section unless the effect of the modification is to maintain or increase the requirement.  2010, c. 7, s. 4. Place of application (6) The Chief Electoral Officer’s direction may apply to one or more electoral districts.  2010, c. 7, s. 4. Content of direction (7) The Chief Electoral Officer’s direction shall, (a)  identify the electoral district or districts to which it applies; (b)  specify the time period during which it applies; (c)  describe the modifications in detail; and (d)  refer to the provisions of this Act that will not be complied with and specify the nature and extent of non-compliance in each case.  2010, c. 7, s. 4. Notice (8) The Chief Electoral Officer shall provide notice of the direction in accordance with subsection (9) as soon as possible after the direction is made, and in any case before the close of nominations in any election to which it applies.  2010, c. 7, s. 4. Same (9) The direction shall be published on a website on the Internet and copies shall be provided, (a)  to the leader of each registered party; and (b)  to the returning officer for each electoral district to which the direction applies.  2010, c. 7, s. 4. Validity of election (10) An election held in accordance with this section is not invalid by reason of any non-compliance with this Act that is authorized by the direction.  2010, c. 7, s. 4. Report (11) When an election is conducted in accordance with a direction under this section, the Chief Electoral Officer shall, (a)  include an evaluation of the modifications made by the direction, (i)  in any report that the Chief Electoral Officer makes with respect to the election, or (ii)  in the next annual report made under section 114.3; (b)  publish the evaluation on a website on the Internet; and (c)  provide copies of the evaluation to the leader of each registered party.  2010, c. 7, s. 4. Section Amendments with date in force (d/m/y) 2010, c. 7, s. 4
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