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Every vote will count, so get out and vote
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Too often, and sometimes justifiably so, citizens lament that their vote doesn’t count.

Not now. Not this time.

Early voting, one of the state’s best and most creative innovations, for Tuesday’s primaries has been under way since Monday and the turnout has been strong. The early voting polls close today at 5 p.m.

There are a handful of races of great interest on the ballot, starting with the sheriff’s race between incumbent Jimmy McDuffie and Bloomingdale Police Chief Rick Gossett. Since there is no candidate on the Democrats’ ballot, the winner will be sheriff.

The tax commissioner race also has a contested primary, with Linda McDaniel and Frank Arden challenging each other for the bid to go against incumbent Lisa Wright in November.

The 12th District congressional race has more than its share of drama and intrigue. There are three candidates on the Republican side — a former energy services executive, a former radio talk show host and a former aide to a one-time Congressman. The number of people asking for a Republican ballot ought to be lengthy throughout Effingham’s precincts Tuesday.

On the other side, there are two Democratic races of note, with Congressman John Barrow attempting to fend off a challenge from state Sen. Regina Thomas for his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. There is also a five-way race for the Democratic bid for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Saxby Chambliss, a field that includes a state government veteran, an outspoken and sometimes polarizing Atlanta-area official, a former TV reporter and two relative newcomers.

But with none of the local Democrats — Wright, 1st District county commission candidate Bob Brantley and Superior Court clerk Elizabeth Hursey — facing opposition, it’s a safe bet that most of the ballots cast Tuesday, and through the early voting period, will be Republican.

Regardless of what ballot you choose and regardless of what name you put your finger on when you go to vote, we urge you to vote if you haven’t done so already. This time, your vote really does count.