The vote happens as the ability resolves. Until this happens, Council Guardian doesn't have protection from any color. Spells and abilities may target Council Guardian as normal in response to its enters-the-battlefield ability, but not in response to the vote. Once players have started voting, it's too late to respond.

If Council Guardian is not on the battlefield when its ability resolves, the vote will still take place; it simply won't have any effect. However, cards that care about voting (for example, Grudge Keeper) will still see the vote.

Because the votes are cast in turn order, each player will know the votes of players who voted beforehand.

You must vote for one of the available options. You can't abstain.

No player votes until the spell or ability resolves. Any responses to that spell or ability must be made without knowing the outcome of the vote.

Players can't do anything after they finish voting but before the spell or ability that included the vote finishes resolving.

The phrase "the vote is tied" refers only to when there is more than one choice that received the most votes. For example, if a 5-player vote from among three different choices ends 3 votes to 1 vote to 1 vote, the vote isn't tied.