From CBC.ca Toronto:

A Toronto freelance journalist was found guilty Monday of violating the Canada Elections Act by voting -- or at least obtaining ballots -- at three polling places in the June 2004 federal election.

"If you have a favourite candidate who lost in this year's election, please pay special attention to the following," James DiFiore wrote in NOW Magazine, a Toronto alternative weekly.

"This is a step-by-step account of how our flawed system could have been exploited to commit fraud in the election."

In court more than 3½ years later, he was fined $250 -- the amount, incidentally, he was paid for the article.

DiFiore said it was worth it because the law has since been amended. Voters now must show photo identification or be vouched for by another person.

"You know, a journalist can only expect or hope for change when they write a story -- that something happens, that the story means something," he said outside the courthouse.