Today’s municipal elections have basically crept up with little to no fanfare, a significant problem if you happen to live in Turkey or Garland, Roseboro or Newton Grove, Salemburg or Autryville.

Many residents probably don’t even realize that this first Tuesday in November is Election Day or that, if they live in one of those municipalities, including the city of Clinton, they should go out some time during the day and vote.

With no state races, no referendums and no hard-fought school board or commissioners contests under way, this Election Day has lacked any momentum and, for many, has become a non-issue.

It should not be viewed in that way.

In many of the county’s small towns, there are three or four people running for two or three open seats, a fact that means a newcomer or an incumbent will be seated, depending on who gets the most votes.

Staying home means few votes will be casts and others will make the decisions for you about who will conduct the business of your town. It’s no different, really, than staying home and allowing others to choose your county commissioners, your sheriff, your school board members or even your president.

In many ways, these local elections should be just as important as national elections, particularly since the people we put in local elected positions are the ones who determine if our water rates rise, if we pay more for garbage collection or if our taxes are raised.

Even in municipalities where there are no contested races, such as in Clinton, voters shouldn’t simply sit home and think it’s OK. Casting ballots, even in non-contested races ensures those running, be they incumbents or challengers, aren’t ousted at the last minute by some unexpected write-in campaign.

It can happen, and it will make an impact if everyone simply stays home and treats this election as if it didn’t matter simply because the fanfare of most elections is absent from this one.

Voting, as we often emphasize, isn’t just a right we are given as American citizens, it’s a duty, a responsibility that should be exercised today and every single time a primary or election rolls around.

The day is expected to be beautiful, with no rain and relatively warm temperatures. There is no excuse, therefore, that should keep us from driving to our polling place, picking up a ballot and voting.

It won’t take much time out of our day, but it will ensure that we all do our part in the electoral process, as it should be.