In case you didn't know it

[whosinpower]

Up here in Canada - today is Election Day. Under the "new" rules, set forth by Elections Canada - it is no longer good enough to bring ID and your voter card to vote. You have to bring proof of residency - that is a utility bill or something - in case your drivers licence does not have your address listed.

I was aware that ID would be required, but did not know about the address thing. Went to vote first thing this morning and was promptly turned away - even though I had my social insurance card, health card, birth certificate and drivers licence and voters card. I admit to getting angry, shouting that it was a bunch of bullsh** and stormed out. Went home and promptly brought back a utility bill - to which the poll workers carefully and very reluctantly admitted that I was indeed who I said I was and lived where I said I did. They seemed rather surprised that I was insistant on exercising my right as a canadian citizen....and seemed extremely reluctant to give me what I need to vote - but they did - and I did my thing. I can't help wondering how many left, never to return. Stories on the radio all day of the same occurance.

Anyhow - wish us luck up here. Harper is poised to be re-elected in a minority situation. Dion, Layton and May have split the left up. Dion is still seen as weak, given his opposition leader performance, and his green plan has never gained any enthusiasm with voters, Layton still has not recognized how many Canadians are angry at him for overthrowing the Martin Liberal government and May has yet to win a single seat in Parliament. Harper broke his own law by calling the election in the first place - and now Canadians are having issues with the new voting regulations.

With a little, or a whole lot of luck, Harper will lose seats - that would serve him right for calling an unnecessary election in the first place. I know I did my part. I would much rather have your Obama work with Dion or Layton rather than Harper. Ideologically, more would be accomplished, and we need to work together for the future.

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Good luck my Northern friend.

[PDJane]

2. I voted in the inner city, Toronto.

They were a bit snippy that Agnes the Blunt and I came to the desk together, until I explained that she lived with me and that we were related, so that the ID for one would have to do for the other. However, my health card does have my address and a picture, so I had no difficulty either way.

However, I'm hoping that we have a progressive government; we are too close to a depression to want the right wing Harper and his secretive clones in power.