I know that for many casting a vote seems a waste of time. It's only one vote and it never affects anything.
But this time, in this place it may be different.
The conventional wisdom seems to be that it will be close between the Conservatives and the Liberals with Gary McHale, an independent, pulling votes in Haldimand County and the Green, NDP and Christian Heritage Party representatives getting a smattering of support.
One long-time resident and astute politics watcher said if incumbent Diane Finley wins the margin will be "razor thin."
To generate the "razor thin" win: the core Conservative vote will have to hold; the swing votes that might go Liberal will have to stay home; and there will need to be fairly strong results for the candidates of the other parties. Meanwhile many of those tempted to cast a protest vote for McHale would have to decide to stick with the Conservatives.
For a Liberal win those conditions would have to be reversed with very few voting NDP, Christian Heritage or Green and with McHale holding the conservative protest vote.
Or this speculation could be completely off base and Finley or Liberal Eric Hoskins could sweep the riding.
Frequently in the recent past Haldimand-Norfolk was part of national trends. When the Liberals were strong Bob Speller was elected. In the last two elections with the Conservatives on the rise Finley was elected. This time the national polls indicate a minority or weak majority government for the Conservatives.
This is closer than many expected.
But the national trends seem to mean less than in recent votes. Local issues loom large.
In Norfolk, the tobacco buyout and the transition of agriculture remains hot. So too are jobs and the development of the economy in the urban, as well as rural, areas.
In Haldimand, the Six Nations land claims and their impact on the economies of Caledonia, Hagersville, Cayuga and Dunnville is the issue. On this the public believe the federal government has done little and accomplished nothing.
They also know the difficulties and in some cases trauma that has confronted those living on the front lines of disputed territory near the former Douglas Creek Estates development and 6th Line on the south side of the Grand River.
In Hagersville a housing development was stopped in its tracks and in Dunnville two retail developments -- including a Wal-Mart -- were cancelled.
Those on the eastern side of the riding are also being sideswiped by the economic and industrial slowdown in Niagara, Hamilton, Burlington and Oakville. A lot of Haldimand residents work in those places and a lot of jobs have disappeared.
On the campaign front it seems that the Conservatives are spending a fair bit of time shoring up their base trying to ensure that those who traditionally vote for a conservative, or in this case a Conservative, candidate do so again.
The Liberals have little choice but to go after the swing votes and to try and convince those leaning towards the NDP or the Green Party that in Haldimand-Norfolk the Liberals are the only option to the Conservatives.
Interestingly, the Liberals are also playing the local representation card. In effect they are saying that last election the voters sent Finley to Ottawa to represent their interests. But instead got someone who represents Ottawa's interests.
A few decades ago, Tip O'Neal, majority leader in the U.S. House of Representatives, said: "All politics is local." The Liberals seem to be betting O'Neal was right.
But whether votes are cast on local or national issues it all comes down to individuals deciding where to mark their X. And if the local election is as close as some think it will be, your X that could be the deciding one.