I feel guilty for not voting!

I did not vote in the Toronto municipal election last month.

     

I felt really uncomfortable that evening shortly before the polls closed not having voted.  It was an icky feeling.  I did not like it. 

Until that night I thought that I voted out of patriotic duty and gratitude for the privilege but when I hadn’t voted I felt a little invisible.  Have I been voting for other reasons that I was not conscious of?

I did receive my municipal elections voting card; it lists my former address, ward and subdivision for voting.

I assumed that I had to vote in my former neighbourhood.  I planned to vote and make a trip to the old neighbourhood.  Then I changed my mind, a few times.  A trip and back to the old neighbourhood is not something I do without contemplation.  Given my disabilities, all my muscle energy is planned and I cannot just do what I want to do.  I have to choose every day.  Will I wash my hair?  Will I do the dishes today?  Will I make a trip to the old neighbourhood to vote?  When the day came, I did not feel I could physically manage it so I consciously uncomfortably chose not to vote.

After the fact I have discovered that I did NOT have to travel back to the old neighbourhood in order to vote. 

At: http://www.toronto.ca/elections/voters/faq.htm

I found the following:

When can I vote?

Weekday Advance Voting

Tuesday, October 5 to Friday, October 8, 2010
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
and
Tuesday, October 12 to Wednesday, October 13, 2010
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

On the six advance vote days, you may vote at any of the following locations no matter where you live in the City:

East York Civic Centre
Council Chamber
850 Coxwell Avenue

Etobicoke Civic Centre
Council Chamber
399 The West Mall

North York Civic Centre
Member's Lounge
5100 Yonge Street

Scarborough Civic Centre
Committee Room 1
150 Borough Drive

Toronto City Hall
Rotunda
100 Queen Street West

York Civic Centre
Council Chamber
2700 Eglinton Avenue West

 

 

 

So I could have voted in advance at any of those addresses above and did not have to travel to my old neighbourhood.

Maybe this information will help you one day, as it would have helped me.

Peace!

Elina Grace Edwin