X marks the spot...

The Google artists give a nod to the Canadian election today.

But just an FYI..."We don’t use voting booths however, we use tab and slot cardboard screens". You can see them behind the picture of the ballot box in this Elections Canada photo.

It is a Federal Election today...but won't get near the coverage as our neighbours to the South.

Admittingly this is the first time I have voted in years because I never really consistantly voted by absentee (ie. haven't lived here in about 8 years!)

So tonight I'm gettin gmy butt out to vote.

As CBC comedian Rick Mercer urged every citizen between the ages of 18 and 25 to "do the unexpected: take 20 minutes out of your day and do what young people all over the world are dying to do: vote."

Into politics here's a Canadian Explanation...

The Major Players in the Canadian Election

• The Conservatives (economically conservative,socially liberal- sort of like the US Democrats)- Led by Stephen Harper, who is seen as arrogant and more conservative than much of his party base. A Canadian George W. Bush.
• The Liberals (socially and economically liberal)- left of the US Democrats. Let by Michael Ignatieff (ig NAT-ee-eff), who is seen as out of touch, annoying, and absentee- he has lived south of the border for years.
• The NDP (New Democratic Party (socially and economically way, way left)- Led by Jack Leyton, whose policies are seen as fiscally fantastical. Also, he really looks like John Locke from Lost.

The Greens and the Block Quebecois are also players, but Canada's is a proportional-representation government, and no one party is expected to dominate the election. Strangely, the Conservatives stand to gain, due to Ignatieff's unpopularity. The NDP will likely be the real players here, as the more seats they seize from the Liberals (their main competitors for votes), the more influence they will have.

Canada's elections are characterized by apathy, since none of the major parties are expected to mess with core institutions such as provinical healthcare, gay marriage, or civil rights. While the three major parties are making noises about fiscal policy, this is basically a senior-year popularity contest between Harper, Ignatieff and Layton, which is somewhat strange: in Canada, you don't vote for the party leader, but for the party itself.

Continue reading at NowPublic.com: Canada Election 2011: Canadians Vote | NowPublic News Coverage http://www.nowpublic.com/world/canada-election-2011-canadians-vote-2783211.html#ixzz1LDci2CDp

From:  here, here