[PDADC-L] Accommodations for Students Voting in the Provincial Election

PDAD&C#15, 2011-12

To: PDAD&C

From: Jill Matus, Vice-Provost, Students

Date: September 28, 2011

Re: Accommodations for Students Voting in the Provincial Election

In the interests of encouraging civic and community engagement among our students, it is requested that whenever possible, reasonable accommodation be provided to students wishing to vote in the upcoming provincial elections.

There may be circumstances when a scheduled academic activity (such as a test or mid-term exam) may interfere with a student's ability to vote. For instance, a student who is a full-time employee and attends class in the evenings might find it difficult to find an appropriate time to vote.

If you have scheduled compulsory and/or graded academic activities on October 6th, please raise the issue with your students at the earliest opportunity.

Should instructors have an academic activity scheduled on October 6th, they should encourage students to use a method that will cause the least amount of disruption to their classes--voting by special ballot or at advance polls. But in circumstances when students have not used one of these methods, every reasonable opportunity should be given to them to make up work that they miss.

If you have any questions about election-related issues as they relate to students of the University of Toronto, please contact either Mike LeSage or Jim Delaney.

For general issues and information related to the elections: Mike LeSage, Research Analyst, Government, Institutional and Community Relations - mike.lesage@utoronto.ca, 416.948.2220.

On accommodating students who wish to vote: Jim Delaney, Director, Office of the Vice-Provost, Students - jim.delaney@utoronto.ca, 416.978.4027.