Advanced voting begins in Vaughan Oct. 11

Yorkregion.com
Oct. 9, 2014
By Adam Martin-Robbins

Voting Day in Vaughan is Monday, Oct. 27, but if you’ve already decided which candidates you’d like to see in office there’s no need to wait to cast a ballot.

Eight advance voting locations are being set up across the city and beyond its borders staring Oct. 11.

“Residents have many opportunities to vote prior to Voting Day. I would like to encourage voters in Vaughan to take advantage of our many advance voting options and cast their ballot early,” said Jeffrey Abrams, Vaughan city clerk and returning officer. “We have advance polls at city hall, our community centres, Vaughan Mills, the Promenade Shopping Centre and York University. All of our advance voting locations will use a vote anywhere approach, which means residents can vote at any of the locations, regardless of the ward they live in.”

You can cast a ballot at city hall Oct. 11, 12 and 14 through 21 - between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Alternatively, you can head over to one of four community centres - Father Ermanno Bulfon, Vellore Village, North Thornhill, Dufferin Clark - between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. Oct. 11, 12, 18, 19, 20 or 21.

You can also vote at Vaughan Mills Mall or Promenade Shopping Centre on those days.

Polls at those locations will be open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays.

York University students can vote on campus Oct. 14 and 15 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

All voting locations are physically accessible and all election officials have been trained to help people with disabilities, if necessary.

But if you have special needs marking a paper ballot, it is recommended you use advance voting locations at city hall, Father Ermanno Bulfon Community Centre, Dufferin Clark Community Centre or York University during the advance vote period.

Those locations are equipped with accessible devices known as accessible tactile interfaces - including keypads, sip-and-puff and paddles - during the advance voting period.

“Voting is a central aspect of our democracy ... and we want to make sure that everybody has the opportunity to vote, regardless of what challenges they may face,” said Warren Rupnarain, Vaughan’s accessibility and diversity co-ordinator.

For more information, visit vaughan.ca/elections or call 905-303-VOTE.