The candidates have made their speeches and the advertisements nearly concluded. Election Day is here.

Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. throughout Chautauqua County.

Typically, voter turnout is higher for presidential elections than it is for so-called “off-year” elections. We don’t doubt that trend will hold true this year in Chautauqua County, though it will be a shame if it does. There are several important races on the ballot statewide and locally.

County voters will decide the leadership of the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Department for the next four years as well as the county’s representation in the state Legislature. Voters across the region will decide their representation in the House of Representatives and one of the state’s two U.S. Senators while voters statewide will choose a governor, attorney general and comptroller.

William E. Simon, a former U.S. Treasury Secretary under Presidents Nixon and Ford, once said, “Bad politicians are sent to Washington by good people who don’t vote.” Today, voters can send a message about the policies and politics that govern our state and our nation by simply going to their polling place and casting their vote.