Here's what you need to know for Ontario election day 2018 (June 7)

Ontario’s 42nd general election is on June 7. Here’s a roundup of some things you should know as an Ottawa elector – where to vote, who’s running, where to find results and some voting dos and don’ts.

Where do I vote?

Polls are open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. If you are registered, you should have received your voter card in the mail from Elections Ontario – it states the location of your assigned polling station. Bring your card with you to the poll along with a piece of ID with your name on it.

If you didn’t get a voter card, that likely means your name isn’t on the voter list. You can still vote, but will need to bring a second piece of ID that proves your address. Elections Ontario has more information on acceptable ID on their website.

Orléans electors: École Ibn Batouta is no longer a voting location. Voters assigned to this voting location should go to Carlsbad Springs Community Centre (Centre communautaire de Carlsbad Springs) at 6020 Piperville Road to vote on June 7  (Elections Ontario)

Who’s running in my district?

To find your riding, or who’s running, type in your postal code here. The riding is also on your voter card.

Here are links to candidate lists for all Ottawa ridings:

• Carleton
• Kanata-Carleton
• Nepean
• Ottawa West-Nepean
• Ottawa Centre
• Ottawa South
• Ottawa-Vanier
• Orléans
• Glengarry-Prescott-Russell

Here’s the platforms for the major parties:

• Liberal Party
• Ontario PCs
• NDP
• Green Party

Results

Unofficial results will be published by Elections Ontario election night. Major news organizations will also have realtime results online or on the air. The Canadian Press also has a tweetbot this time around. We will also be tweeting @ottawastart.

Voting – dos and don’ts

Some dos:

• Vote
• Believe your vote counts
• Encourage your family, friends and neighbours to vote
• Order a pizza
• Realize that decisions made at Queen’s Park can touch your life directly
• Think critically about what kind of government you would like to see for the next four years
• Take a selfie outside the polling station

Some don’ts:

• Don’t not vote.
• Deface election signs
• Share false information on social media
• Fail to read party platforms or know your local candidates
• Take a selfie with your ballot (this is illegal)

Voting – another option

A little-known fact about elections in Ontario (so little known, some elections officials were unaware) is that you may decline your ballot to officially and unambiguously reject the parties and candidates running. This is different than a spoiled ballot.

“This is a public process and is done out loud,” says Elections Ontario’s website. “The election official will mark “declined” on the election documentation and your ballot will not be placed in the ballot box but in an envelope for declined ballots.”