How to celebrate Diwali and vote in Brampton municipal election
Published September 27, 2022 at 12:50 pm
Brampton’s upcoming municipal election falls on the religious holiday of Diwali, and the City wants residents to know they can cast their votes early and still have time to celebrate.
Diwali is a religious and cultural festival celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains, and happens to be on Oct. 24 this year – the same day municipal elections will be held in Brampton and communities across Ontario.
Around 40 percent of Brampton’s population is South Asian, and the City has alternate voting options available for residents who are unable to vote on election day becasue of Diwali celebrations.
Advance Voting will take place on Oct. 7, 8, 9, and again on Oct. 14 and 15. To find the Advance Voting location closest to you, visit the City’s website.
RELATED: Early voting for Brampton municipal election starts next week
If you are an eligible Brampton voter who can’t make it on Voting Day or any of the Advance Voting dates, you may appoint another eligible Brampton voter to vote on your behalf.
Videos
Any person whose name is on the Voters’ List or who has been added to the Voters’ List may vote by proxy. Vist the City’s website for more information about proxy voting.
Eligible voters who are homebound due to illness, injury or disability may apply to vote using the Home Voting service on Oct. 11, 12 and 13.
Limited appointments will be available to those who meet the eligibility requirements. More information about the home voting service is available online.
Municipal election dates are fixed under a provincial act, and are set for the fourth Monday of October.
The City sent a letter to the province expressing concerns of holding the election on the same day as Diwali, and Brampton Councillors Michael Palleschi and Harkirat Singh also tabled a motion which was withdrawn to petition the province to move the date.
The city has sent advance voting information to places of worship and culture centres in languages including Punjabi, Hindi and Gujarati as part of outreach to diverse communities.
For more information on the Brampton municipal election visit www.brampton.ca/bramptonvotes.
With files from The Canadian Press
insauga's Editorial Standards and Policies advertising