Polling place
51. (1) Subject to section 52, the clerk shall provide for each election at least one polling place for each polling subdivision in a place that is most central or most convenient for the electors, allows easy access to persons who have a physical disability or a mobility impairment and is furnished with light and heat and such other accommodation and furniture as may be required, but the polling place may be provided outside the limits of the polling subdivision. Additional polling places (2) If, in the opinion of the clerk, it is necessary to ensure that the maximum number of electors have access to conveniently located polling places, the clerk may request, not less than fourteen days before polling day, that premises be made available as a polling place that are under the control of, (a) a landlord of a building containing 100 or more dwelling units; (b) a municipality, including a regional municipality; (c) a school board; or (d) a provincially funded institution. Compliance (3) A landlord, municipality, school board or institution receiving a request under subsection (2) shall provide a space, other than a space actually being used as a dwelling, acceptable to the clerk for use as a polling place. Space provided without charge (4) A municipality, school board or institution receiving a request under subsection (2) shall make its premises available as a polling place free of charge. Location (5) Every polling place for an election in a municipality shall be situate in the municipality, except that where a polling subdivision in a township adjoins an urban municipality, the polling place for the polling subdivision may be within the limits of the urban municipality. Compartments (6) Every polling place shall be furnished with compartments in which electors may mark their ballots without other persons being able to see how they are marked and it is the duty of the clerk and the deputy returning officer respectively to ensure that a sufficient number of compartments is provided at each polling place. United subdivisions (7) The clerk may unite two or more adjoining polling subdivisions and provide one polling place for the united subdivisions. Additional places (8) The clerk may provide such additional polling places in any polling subdivisions as are required having regard to the extent of the subdivision, the remoteness of any number of its electors from the polling place and number of electors that may conveniently vote at one polling place. Designation of places (9) Where there are two or more polling places in a polling subdivision, each polling place shall be designated by the numbers of the lots and concessions or the numbers and names of the streets at which the electors reside or that designate the properties in respect of which the electors are qualified to vote therein, or by the initial letters of the surnames of the electors who are qualified to vote therein, that is to say, A to M and N to Z, or as the case may be, and an elector is entitled to vote at the appropriate polling place designated accordingly. Notice of date and time of polling and of location of polling place (10) In municipalities having more than 5,000 electors, the clerk shall advise each elector of the date and time of polling including advance polls and the location of the polling place in which the elector is to vote, (a) in the case of a resident elector, by mailing or causing to be delivered to the elector a notice of the date and time of polling and of the location of such polling place; and (b) in the case of a non-resident elector, by mailing to the elector a notice of the date and time of polling and of the location of such polling place. Idem (11) Despite clause (10)(a), the council of a municipality having more than 5,000 electors may, by by-law passed not later than the 1st day of September in an election year, provide that the clerk shall advise each resident elector of the date and time of polling, including advance polls, and of the location of the polling place at which that elector is to vote by mailing or causing to be delivered to the address of the elector a notice of the date and time of polling and of the location of such polling place, which notice shall be directed to all the electors at that address. Idem (12) In municipalities having not more than 5,000 electors, the clerk shall post a notice in two conspicuous places within the municipality and, where there is a newspaper having general circulation in the municipality, publish a notice once in the newspaper, advising the date and time of polling, including advance polls, and the location of the polling places. Repeal of by-law (13) A by-law passed under subsection (11) shall remain in effect until repealed but shall not be repealed in an election year later than the 1st day of September. Where postal service disrupted (14) Where, by reason of a disruption in mail delivery service, it is not possible to comply with subsection (10) or (11), the clerk shall publish a notice at least once in a newspaper having general circulation in the municipality advising the date and time of polling, including advance polls, and the location of the polling place in which each elector is to vote, or the clerk shall take such other steps that he or she considers necessary to provide the information to the electors. R.S.O. 1990, c.M.53, s.51.