To Whom It May Concern:
Yesterday the 12 was election day. We vote at Maryborough Public School in Moorefield, Ontario. When we arrived we parked on the road in front of the school, thinking we could enter the school from the front doors. My husband has mobility issues as well as COPD, he only has 60 percent usage of his lungs. As we got to the sidewalk a girl from Elections Ontario told us we could not enter through the front door. My husband was already out of the car and said he thought he could walk to the side door. When we got to the side door, we were told we could not use that, as they did not want to interfere with the students, which we can understand. It was quite a walk and my husband had to stop twice to get his breathing under control. By the time we got into the school, he was done in. He then saw the long ramp that we had to walk down to get to the gymnasium, where the voting was taking place. He said he would not vote, as he could not make it. We were met by a lovely lady from Elections Ontario, who got him a chair, and said that they could bring the ballot box to him. She also informed us that they could have taken the ballot box to our vehicle. We asked the lady from Elections Ontario why voting was not done at the Community Centre in Moorefield, she said the man from Elections Ontario had looked at it, and said because of the steps it was not accessible. He must never have got out of his vehicle, as there is a handicapped entrance at the back of the hall, as well as a side door on street level.
Why is it necessary to use the schools, when there is another available facility. It disrupts the students, and at this time of year, it is hard enough for the teachers to keep the interest of the students.
I am sure there were many more handicapped people voting. If it has to be in a poorly accessible building, why are there not signs easily visible, telling the handicapped that voting can be done from their vehicle. As usual another botched up job by the Ontario Government
We were treated royally by the election workers, and also by the bubbly, and wonderful school secretary, Mrs. McIntosh.
We hope some consideration will be made for the handicapped at the next election.
Sincerely,
Ed and Mary Robinson
Moorefield, Ontario
N0G 2K0
Mary Robinson