Ontario election polls close

The counting of ballots has begun, and the results of Ontario's 39th general election and its referendum on electoral reform are coming in.

Conservative Leader John Tory, left, watches his father, John, vote in Toronto.
(Frank Gunn/Canadian Press)

More than 29,000 polling stations closed at 9 p.m. ET (8 p.m. CT) Wednesday, an hour later than usual, after 12 hours of accepting voters' ballots.

Turnout at polling stations appeared to be light across Ontario in the initial hours of voting, returning officers said. Eight million people are eligible to cast ballots, including for a historic referendum.

But the returning officers noted that the action usually picks up after 4 p.m. ET.

Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty voted in his home riding of Ottawa South, while NDP Leader Howard Hampton voted in Fort Frances, in northwestern Ontario.

Conservative Leader John Tory, meanwhile, accompanied his 77-year-old father, John, to a polling station in Don Valley West, where he is in a tight race with Liberal Kathleen Wynne.

Voters were deciding whether to give McGuinty a second mandate as premier, or hand the reins to one of his rivals — Tory, Hampton or Green party Leader Frank de Jong.

First referendum since 1924

In the second portion of the voting, for the first time since 1924, Ontarians were asked to vote on a referendum question: Should the province keep the current electoral system or switch to a mixed-member proportional system?

Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty and his wife, Terri, wave from the Liberal campaign plane as they arrive in Ottawa.
(Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press)

In the first-past-the-post system, voters in the province's 107 ridings choose a local candidate to represent them in the provincial legislature, and the party that wins the most ridings forms the government.

The other option is to have a mixed system where voters mark two boxes on a ballot — one for a local representative and one for a political party. The legislature would expand to 129 members from 107, with 90 local representatives and 39 so-called list members.

The list members would be distributed among the political parties so the balance of power in the legislature would be roughly equal to the popular vote results.

Ballot changes, new ridings

For the first time in Ontario, candidates' political-party affiliations are being listed on the ballots beside their names, and voters are being asked to show proof of identification (anything that shows a name and signature) to receive their ballots even though they have voter registration cards.

NDP Leader Howard Hampton casts his ballot in Fort Frances, Ont.
(Jacques Boissinot/Canadian Press)

This year, the number of ridings increased by four, from 103 in the last election in 2003.

Those were among changes arising from legislation passed since the last election that also boosted the number of polling stations, more than doubled the days of advanced voting from six to 13, and fixed an election date in an effort to boost voter turnout.

The move seems to have worked. Elections Ontario reported that 451,949 electors voted at the advance polls this year, up from 356,396 in 2003.

The election came after a 30-day campaign that focused largely on the issue of education and funding for faith-based schools.

Tory launched the education debate when he promised to expand the public school system to include all faith-based schools complying with Ontario standards. The pledge drew widespread criticism, and Tory later promised that he would allow a free vote in the legislature on the proposal, should his party win the election.

McGuinty slammed Tory's expanded funding plan, saying it would be divisive, while the Green party claimed on its website that the "only fair solution" to the debate would be to amalgamate the Catholic and public school boards into a single system.

The New Democrats said their education plan focused on improving the existing school system.

P.E.I., B.C. also voted on election reform

While debate was heated over education, others had hoped equal discussion would be held about the referendum.

Dennis Pilon, a University of Victoria political science professor who wrote a book on election reform, said he believes the referendum is a historic opportunity for Ontario voters.

He said he hopes voters are informed about the options when they cast their ballot.

"It's one thing if Ontarians don't want this new system, it's another thing if it fails because of ignorance," he said.

Voters in Prince Edward Island and British Columbia have cast ballots on proportional representation before, but the proposals didn't pass.

With files from the Canadian Press