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Harman Kandola Campaign: Municipal Election Conflicts with Diwali, Barriers to Democratic Participation Must Be Addressed
EDMONTON, AB – September 24, 2025 – The Harman Kandola Council Campaign today raised urgent concerns about Edmonton’s municipal election scheduled for Monday, October 20, 2025, which directly conflicts with Diwali, one of the most significant festivals celebrated by South Asian communities.
Election Day Meets The Festival of Lights
Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, will be celebrated on October 20th this year – the same date as Edmonton’s municipal election. For Sikh and Hindu families, Diwali holds similar religious and cultural significance to Christmas for Christian families: it’s a sacred time for family gatherings, religious ceremonies, special meals, and honoring centuries-old traditions.
“Imagine if we scheduled an election on Christmas Day,” said Harman Kandola. “That’s exactly what we’re doing to thousands of Edmonton families who celebrate Diwali. This timing creates an unconscionable barrier to democratic participation.”
Brampton’s Warning for Edmonton
On October 24, 2022, the Peel Region Municipal Election took place on Diwali. In Brampton, a heavily South Asian municipality, voter turnout dropped a concerning 19.5% over the prior election. Advance voting dates did not effectively address the reality that most residents vote on election day. A post-election analysis performed by RA2 Inc. on voter turnout in diverse ridings in Brampton shows a clear pattern of the lower voter turnout being driven by lower turnout in the most diverse ridings.
“In our analysis of voter turnout in Brampton between the 2018 election to the 2022 election, we saw a considerable drop in voter participation in the 2022 election that took place on Diwali. This drop off was especially noticeable in areas with a high South Asian population, a clear sign that holding an election on Diwali hurt democratic participation.” – Cameron Raynor, RA2 Inc.
RA2 Inc’s full report is attached.
An Urgent Call for Action
Mobile Polling Stations
The Kandola Campaign calls on Election Edmonton to place mobile polling stations at key Diwali gathering spaces on election day:
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Gurdwaras (Sikh temples) throughout Edmonton
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Mandirs (Hindu temples) and cultural centers
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Community halls hosting Diwali celebrations
“These mobile stations would allow families to fulfill both their civic duty and religious obligations,” Kandola explained.
Long-term Reform:
Provincial Legislation
The campaign calls on Alberta’s government to amend the Local Authorities Election Act to prevent future conflicts between elections and major religious festivals through mandatory community consultation before setting election dates.
About Democratic Inclusion
Edmonton’s growing South Asian community deserves full participation in municipal democracy. When we exclude voices from the democratic process through poor scheduling, we weaken our entire community.
“Strong communities are built when everyone can participate fully in shaping their future,” Kandola emphasized.
