Ontario residents are heading to the polls today, Thursday, February 27, 2025, to choose their next provincial government. Here’s everything you need to know about this election day:

Reason for the early election call:

The general elections in Ontario were originally scheduled for June 2026. However, Premier Doug Ford announced in late January 2025 the need for a "strong mandate" from the people to face the threats from U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the imposition of tariffs on Canada. Ford indicated that his government might have to spend billions of dollars to stimulate the economy if those threats were implemented, making it difficult to fulfill their previous promise of achieving a balanced budget. For their part, opposition parties accused Ford of exploiting positive polling numbers and calling for an early election before the Royal Canadian Mounted Police began an investigation into the greenbelt scandal.

Key candidates:

• Doug Ford: Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party, seeking a third term in government with a stronger mandate than before.

• Bonnie Crombie: Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party since December 2023, aiming to restore her party's standing after disappointing results in the previous election.

• Marit Stiles: Leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP), hopes to form the government, while challenging to maintain the party's position as the official opposition if the Liberals make significant gains.

• Mike Schreiner: Leader of the Green Party, seeking to increase the number of seats for his party in the provincial parliament.

To find out about local candidates in your riding, you can use your postal code on the Elections Ontario website.

Key issues:

American tariff threats have dominated the election campaign, although dealing with this issue is primarily federal. President Trump has maintained a state of uncertainty regarding these tariffs, causing concern among Canadians, especially in Ontario, where the manufacturing sector could be significantly affected. Ford has focused his campaign on his ability to handle this threat under the slogan “Protecting Ontario.” In contrast, other parties have proposed plans to deal with these threats, trying to avoid framing the election solely around this issue.

How to vote:

• Voting on election day: Polling stations will be open from 9 AM to 9 PM.

• Mail-in voting: Mail-in ballot requests had to be submitted by 6 PM on February 21.

• Advance voting: Took place from February 20 to 22.

Voters are required to provide identification when voting. If you are registered on the electoral roll, you will receive a Voter Information Card (VIC) by mail, which contains details about when and where to vote. To obtain a ballot, you must bring your Voter Information Card and an ID that includes your full name.

Tracking the results:

After polling stations close at 9 PM, the vote counting process will begin. Results can be followed live on the CP24 website, where instant updates and in-depth analysis of the electoral process and preliminary results will be provided.

For more information and details about the electoral process, you can visit the official Elections Ontario website.