Elections Ontario defends accessible voting at human rights tribunal over Lepofsky complaint Elections Ontario told a human rights tribunal it accommodates voters with disabilities while keeping votes secure and secret, as advocate David Lepofsky seeks a monitor and a plan to review accessibility measures. Elections Ontario told an Ontario Human Rights Tribunal hearing on Thursday that it tries to accommodate all voters with disabilities, but any accommodation must keep votes secure and secret. Lepofsky Accessibility Complaint HistoryThe tribunal is hearing final submissions in a complaint filed by accessibility advocate David Lepofsky more than seven years ago. The complaint followed an incident during the 2018 Ontario election. Lepofsky has said he tried to vote using Elections Ontario's accessible voting machine, but his ballot fell to the floor as it came out of the terminal. A poll worker told him he had inadvertently seen who he voted for.Lepofsky also said at the time that a voting affirmation document was not available to him in braille. He argued that Elections Ontario has failed to ensure he can mark and cast his ballot independently and privately in other elections as well. He says that amounts to a continuing human rights violation. Lawyer Yael Bienenstock, representing Elections Ontario, said the agency wants all voters to mark their ballots independently and verify their choice.Elections Ontario Cost DefenseShe noted there are 175 accessible voting machines that people who are blind can use. She said Lepofsky admitted that with the accessible voting terminal he can mark his ballot on his own, without asking anyone else to mark it for him, and that he has used it to verify his choice before and after the ballot was printed. Bienenstock told the tribunal that offering accessible voting technology does not come without hardship for Elections Ontario.She said the evidence shows it costs between 3,500 dollars and 5,000 dollars per unit. Lepofsky argued the agency did not take sufficient action to ensure accessible voting before and after the 2018 incident. In his closing argument on Thursday, Lepofsky said he is seeking an effective, consistent and reliable method for blind people to vote. He said accessible voting machines were available in 159 voting locations, while more than 7,000 other locations in Ontario had none.He asked the tribunal to order Elections Ontario to produce a plan for a proper review of accessibility measures and to appoint an official monitor to oversee that process. Lepofsky criticized what he described as bureaucratic rigidity. He said he heard arguments to stay inside the box and not change things because change might be a fundamental transformation. He said the situation needed creativity instead.Lepofsky Calls for Action PlanHe also said he was told the agency would come up with an action plan with timetables, but that still has not happened. Lepofsky told the tribunal earlier this month that he has advocated for the rights of blind people for decades. He said he wants to ensure accessible voting for them. Elections Ontario says on its website that it is committed to preventing and removing barriers so that persons with disabilities can fully participate in the electoral process.The agency says assistive voting technology lets voters listen to their ballot choices and cast their ballot secretly and independently. It says options such as voting by mail or by home visit are also available. The Canadian Press report was first published on Oct. 29, 2026. Maan Alhmidi reported for The Canadian Press.