Information for Voters in Ward 2

Woman on laptop and on phone

The voting period for the 2024 Municipal By-election (Ward 2 - Rural) is between June 1 to June 6, 2024.

Icon of a phone with a checkmark As a Canadian citizen, voting is your right and responsibility. Your community is shaped by the outcome of an election. The people who are elected will make many important decisions including how tax dollars are spent in your community.

In the upcoming Municipal By-election, Ward 2 residents can vote for the office of Councillor, Ward 2 (Rural). Residents that live in Ward 1 will not be eligible to vote in this by-election.

Before you vote

Learn about who can vote, when to vote and instruction letters.

Get ready to vote

Who is running?

Find out more about the candidates running in the 2024 Municipal By-election (Ward 2 - Rural)

Who are the Candidates

Information for Voters in Ward 2

We will be offering two methods for voting: internet and telephone. Check to see if you are on the Voters' List by contacting the Clerk's office.

Contact the Clerk

Before you vote

Learn about who can vote, when to vote and how to check if you are on the Voters' List. Check out the Ministry's 2022 Voters' Guide for more information.

Who can vote?

You can vote in the 2024 Port Hope Municipal By-election if you are:

A resident of Ward 2 (Rural) in the Municipality of Port Hope; or, a non-resident, who is an owner or tenant of land in Ward 2 (Rural) of the Municipality or a spouse of such owner or tenant; and,
A Canadian citizen;
At least 18 years of age; and
Are not prohibited from voting under the Municipal Elections Act or otherwise by law.

Remember: You can only vote once, regardless of how many properties you own or rent.

Who is prohibited from voting?

Under the Municipal Elections Act, the following are prohibited from voting:

A person who is serving a sentence of imprisonment in a penal or correctional institution;
A corporation;
A person acting as executor or trustee or in any other representative capacity, except as a voting proxy in accordance with section 44 (Port Hope is utilizing alternative voting measures and therefore voting by proxy is not applicable); and
A person who was convicted of the corrupt practice described in subsection 90 (3), if voting day in the current election is less than five years after voting day in the election in respect of which he or she was convicted.

When can I vote?

The voting period will commence on June 1, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. and conclude at 8:00 p.m. on Voting Day, June 6, 2024.

Ward 2 residents can vote online or by telephone at anytime during the voting period. Remember, you can only vote once, even if you own multiple properties within the Municipality.

If you require assistance with voting, you may attend one of the Municipality’s Voter Assistance Centres. More information about the Voter Assistance Centres will be available soon.

How do I know if I am on the Voters' list?

The Voters' list is a list of everyone in the municipality of who is eligible to vote in the 2024 by-election. Your name must be on the Voters' List in order to receive a Voter Instruction Letter, and in order to cast a ballot.

You can check to see if you are on the Voters' List by contacting the Clerk's office by email or calling the Voter Help Line at 905-885-4544 ext. 0.

Certified Candidates for the 2024 Municipal By-election

The following is a list of candidates who have been certified by the Clerk to run for the Office of Councillor, Ward 2 (Rural) in the 2024 by-election.

Candidates for Councillor - Ward 2 Rural Area (One to be elected)

BICKLE, John (Nomination filed on April 2, 2024)

FERRIE-BLECHER, Louise (Nomination filed on March 19, 2024)

JORGENSEN, Freyja (Nomination filed on April 22, 2024)

TOMS, Darrell (Nomination filed on March 19, 2024)

TURCK, Sarah (Nomination filed on March 19, 2024)

How to Vote in the Ward 2 (Rural Area) By-election

Overview of the Voting Process

The By-election is a paperless election, and voters can cast their ballot online or by telephone.

Eligible voters in Ward 2 (Rural Area) will require a Voter Instruction Letter, which will be sent by mail via Canada Post in mid-May. The Voter Instruction Letter includes:

instructions on how to vote using the internet or telephone
unique PIN allowing each voter to vote once
dates and hours of voting
locations and phone numbers of the Voter Assistance Centres

Should a voter receive more than one Voter Instruction Letter they must return the other letter(s) to the Port Hope Municipal Office, located at 56 Queen Street. Remember, you can only vote once in the By-election, regardless of how many properties you own.

Voters will be given an opportunity to change their vote before confirming the vote. The voting system allows voters to decline from voting if they wish. The Clerk will report the "unofficial" results as soon as practical on or after the close of polls on June 6, 2024, at 8:00 p.m.

A brief demo of the voting process is available below. Note that this demo outlines the municipal election voting process. As the By-election is for only one race, there will be much fewer screens.

What is a voter instruction letter?

If your name is on the Voters’ list for Ward 2 (Rural Area), you’ll receive a voter instruction letter from the Municipality in the mail. These will be sent out in early May, 2024. This sealed envelope will contain a Personal Identification Number (PIN) and a telephone access number and a secure Internet address for voting. This allows voters to vote from the convenience of their own homes or office. Contact information for the Voter Assistance Centres will also be included. Please ensure that you keep the voter instruction letter in a safe place until the voting period opens. Remember, you can only vote once in the By-election.

Voter Assistance Centres

The Municipality of Port Hope will offer Voter Assistance Centres for those residents that do not have access to the internet or require assistance casting their ballot, at the following dates and times. If a voter wants to vote in-person An Application to Amend the Voters’ List may also be filed at a Voter Assistance Centre during operating hours.

Voter Assistance Centre:
Port Hope Community Hub, 5325 County Road 10, Port Hope, ON L1A 3V5
Date	Time
Saturday, June 1, 2024	10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, June 5, 2024	4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Thursday, June 6, 2024	10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Voter Assistance Centre:
Port Hope Fire Station 3, 3585 Ganaraska Road, Port Hope Ontario, L0A 1B0
Date	Time
Saturday, June 1, 2024	10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Monday, June 3, 2024	10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Thursday, June 6, 2024	10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Accessibility in the Municipal Election

The Municipality of Port Hope is committed to eliminating barriers and improving accessibility for all persons through equitable opportunities and the provision of integrated programs and services where possible, in a manner that respects their dignity and independence.

Our mission is to provide all candidates, electors, and staff with equitable opportunity and to ensure a positive involvement in the electoral process.

Learn more about the 2024 By-election Accessibility Plan.

Voter FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions
Question	Answer
Who will get a Voter Instruction Letter (VIL) with a PIN to vote in the election?	All qualified electors that are on the official Municipal Voters' List for Ward 2 (Rural) provided by the municipality.
What if my name is not on the Voters' List?	Eligible electors who are not on the official Voters' List may contact the Returning Officer at elections@porthope.ca or call the Voter Helpline at 905.885.4544 x.2234 to receive instructions on how they may be added to the List. They will be required to provide identification confirming that they are eligible to vote in Ward 2, and will be required to fill out a form. Once added to the list, they will receive a Voter Instruction Letter.
When should I expect to receive my PIN in the mail?	Individual PINs will be mailed to eligible electors so that they are received approximately seven (7) to fourteen (14) days prior to the first voting day.
What if I do not get a PIN in the mail by Election Day?	If you are an eligible elector and on the official Voters' List, but you did not get a PIN in the mail by the start of the election period, you can request a replacement PIN. If the Election Official’s records indicate you were sent a PIN in the mail, then the original PIN will be disabled and cannot be used to cast a vote in the election. A replacement PIN will be issued to you if the original PIN has not been voted and you provide appropriate identification.
Why would I not get a PIN in the mail?	If you did not get a PIN in the mail, one of two things may have happened. First, your name was not on the official Voters' List. PINs are only mailed to electors whose names appear on the official Elector List as supplied by the municipality. Secondly, a PIN may have been mailed to you and it has been delayed for some reason in the mail system.
Can anyone tell how I voted if they know my PIN?	No. The system does not track how a particular PIN has voted, only that the PIN has been used to cast a vote.
Once I have my PIN, do I have to register in advance if I want to use either the telephone or the Internet to cast my vote?	No, there is no registration required. During the election period, using your PIN, you can use either the telephone or the Internet to cast your vote, or vote using a paper ballot if this is offered by the municipality.
What if I lose or misplace my PIN?	If an elector loses or misplaces their PIN, they should contact the Voter Help Line at 905-885-4544 ext.0. The Election Official can decide to replace the missing PIN if it has not already been voted. They will determine if a voter has to travel to a location, sign a form, and then replace the missing PIN, or they can decide to allow the Voter Help Line agent to authenticate the caller and issue a replacement PIN over the phone. In both cases, the original lost or missing PIN will be disabled, and it will not be able to be voted in the election.
How do I access the voting system?	Voting instructions will be included in the Voter Instruction letter mailed to each eligible elector on the official Voters' List. Included in this information are instructions on how to access the voting system. Voters can cast their ballot using the telephone or cell phone by calling a toll-free number. Voters using personal computers will use the Internet to visit a website that will allow them entry into the voting system where they can cast their vote.
Once I enter my PIN and start my voting process do I have to complete all ballots in one session? For example, what if I am interrupted and must hang up the phone for some reason or, if I am voting using the Internet and must leave my session?	No, you do not have to vote all ballots at one time uninterrupted. You can disconnect from the Internet or the telephone and re-connect later, re-enter your PIN and any other credentials required and complete your voting activity at that time. In fact, if you find it more convenient, you can switch from one method to the other and complete your voting using the other method. For example, you can start your voting on the Internet and at some point close your Internet session, and then later re-start the voting process and re-enter your PIN and any other credentials required using your phone or cell phone and complete your ballot.
What do I do if I am not sure if I completed a ballot?	During the voting period you can connect to the voting system and enter your PIN. If you have yet to complete all ballots assigned to you, the system will begin where you left off - at the next race you are eligible to complete. When you have completed voting all ballots assigned to you, entering your PIN online and any other credentials required in the voting system during the voting period will display a message containing your vote status. This message will advise if you have completed voting. You can also contact the Voter Help Line at 905-885-4544 ext.0 to get more information.
If I am using the telephone to vote, how will I know what number to press to vote for the candidate of my choice, or what if I make a mistake and select a different candidate than the one I want to vote for?	The Voter Instruction letter mailed to you has the list of candidates included on it for your reference purpose. In addition, each time the system presents you with a race to vote for, it lists the eligible candidates running for that position and instructs you to select the corresponding number for that candidate. You may also clear your ballot selections and start over.
Once a vote has been confirmed, can it be changed?	No. Once a vote has been confirmed it cannot be changed. This process is the same as dropping the ballot into the ballot box in a traditional paper-based election ensuring complete voter anonymity and secrecy of ballot. The system does not know how the ballot was voted; only that the PIN was used in the election to cast a vote and thus it cannot be removed from the vote count.
How do I vote if I am away from home, out of town, out of the province, or out of the country?	You can vote during the election voting period using the Internet from anywhere in the world. You can also use telephone service and connect to the voting system toll free from anywhere in North America simply by dialing the toll-free number contained in your Voter Instruction letter.
What if I have a rotary phone at home, no cell phone and don’t have a computer with Internet service. How can I vote?	You do not have to vote from home. You can vote from any location using any phone with touch tone service or from any computer. You can also vote in person at Voter Assistance Centres. The location of the Voter Assistance Centres can be found in the Voter Instruction letters sent to eligible electors.
If someone calls me and asks for my PIN, what should I do?	You should treat your voting PIN with the same level of secrecy and confidentially you reserve for your bank card and PIN. Do not give your PIN to anyone who may call or approach you for the number.
What do I do if the phone line is busy when I call and try to vote?	If the phone lines are busy, simply hang up and call back a short time later. The voting system can handle a significant volume of calls simultaneously but there is always the possibility that many voters are attempting to call in the same timeframe. Voters will be able to connect to the system over the course of several days during the voting period.
Could someone steal my PIN and vote it?	Stealing and opening another person’s mail is illegal. It is also illegal to represent yourself as another person and steal their right to vote in an election. Both these acts are illegal and have penalties defined by law. If you know someone has voted your PIN illegally you should report it to the Election Official. You may be able to obtain a replacement PIN to cast your vote by presenting yourself to the Election Official and swearing an affidavit that the PIN assigned to you was not voted by you but by someone else.
If I am a voter with a disability; deafness, blindness, or a mobility disability, can someone help me with the voting process?	Electronic voting allows increased right of privacy to voters with physical challenges that make traditional voting at polling stations more difficult. Blind voters can make use of the telephone and deaf voters can use the Internet to vote with little or no assistance required from others. If you need assistance at the polling station to cast your vote, the Election Official present will be able to assist you.
Would it be possible for me to be sent more than one PIN?	If you received more than one PIN, it is because your name appeared on the Voters' List more than once. This rare situation might occur if you changed your place of residence and have been enumerated in both locations or you own property and are the registered resident at both locations. You are only permitted to vote once in a municipality, and you should only cast a vote using the PIN associated with your primary place of residence. Notify the Election Official of the additional PIN and they will disable this PIN rendering it unusable for the election.