Item - 2017.EX24.4

The Executive Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council authorize the establishment of a home visit program for home-bound electors in the City's municipal and school board elections, and pass a by-law substantially in the form of the draft bill attached as Attachment 1 to the report (April 3, 2017) from the City Clerk.

The purpose of this report is to seek authority from Council to establish a home visit program that would allow home-bound electors the ability to vote from their place of residence in the City's municipal and school board elections. This service would be provided to electors who are unable to attend a voting place without unreasonable difficulty due to illness, injury or disability.

Section 42 (1)(b) of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 (MEA) provides Council the authority to pass a by-law authorizing electors to use an alternative voting method that does not require them to attend a voting place in order to vote. Under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, the City Clerk is given the statutory responsibility to develop the required policies and procedures she deems necessary to conduct the election and which meet the principles of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996.

The last day for Council to pass a by-law authorizing this program for the 2018 municipal general election is May 1st, 2017.