Two days early, Iraq is now a sovereign nation again. Paul Bremner handed over the papers early in a move that probably thwarted attempts by insurgents to disrupt the planned ceremony on June 30.
Well, here we go. Good luck, guys!
It will be a long day for me. My poll clerk is due to pick me up in about fifteen minutes and then it's off to set up the polling station. Polls here in Ontario open at 9:30 a.m. and won't close until 9:30 p.m. What with counting the ballots, reporting the results, closing the station and returning the ballot box, I expect I will be home around 11 p.m.
This is going to be an odd feeling. I usually glue myself to the television set early in the evening and watch as the results roll in across the country. Instead, by the time I get home, I'll only have heard rumours about who won and who lost, and the results will hit me all at once as soon as I turn on the television set.
Still, I'm looking forward to actually counting the ballots.
See you all tonight!