There are no excuses for not voting

We've told you who we like and why. Newspaper and radio ads have told you where candidates stand as well as how to vote.

Everyone wants your vote — today, you get to have your say.

And that's how it should be — Bonner County voters deciding how they want things done and who they want to do it.

Today is, of course, election day for all of us who did not already vote absentee. In a series of Opinion Page endorsements, we outlined who and what we support, and did our best to explain why.

In doing so, we have neither the intention nor the desire to have the final word.

That's between you and the ballot box.

The county Clerk's Office is hoping for a big turnout and, with write-in votes factored into the equation, it looks to be a long, long night for these folks.

It'd be nice to see 100 percent turnout of all registered voters and, it would be even nicer to see everyone who is eligible to vote go to the polls and register so they can immediately have their say. Talk about instant gratification. (As an added bonus, you get the right to complain about what the bums did, or didn't do. If you don't vote, you forfeit any right to complain, whine, snivel or pontificate. Period.)

It'd be nice to see friends, neighbors and club members volunteer a ride to polling places so those without a way to get there, can. (Bonus points for only taking everyone, not just those who you think will vote the same you do. Double bonus points if you go out of your way to help your friends and neighbors get to the polls.)

Seriously, this election is too important in too many ways to sit at home because "you don't have time," "you don't know the issues," "you aren't registered" or "you just don't care, after all, my vote doesn't matter."

Polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. That's 12 hours to vote.

If you don't know the issues, take a few minutes to read through your voter guide or stop by the library to search the Internet.

You can register at the polls, just bring a valid ID and something that has your home address (a bill works just dandy).

And, finally, elections have been won or lost by one vote. Imagine if that person stayed home, or a few more people took a few minutes to vote.