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We are living in an era where the word "election" has become a relevant component of daily life, not only in the weeks leading up to balloting, but virtually year-round.
But in the days leading up to "off-year" elections -- the years when most statewide and federal offices are not on the ballots -- the importance of balloting for local-level municipal offices seldom receives the kind of attention that really is warranted.
Sure, there are signs promoting various candidates, but the vital nature of such elections in general is not accorded the kind of emphasis that they ought to receive -- not repeated over and over, as what is truly deserved.
Today's general election is one of those elections considered "off-year," but at the same time, unfortunately, in second place behind opinions, polling and projections already underway for 2022's "midterm" balloting for state legislative and congressional offices and some gubernatorial seats.
The word "midterm" is used to describe the midpoint between presidential elections.
However, the municipal balloting that is being conducted today is very important for one major reason: The offices that will be decided are the closest to the people and their daily lives.
The election results will determine the directions that local-level governments and school districts will take at least for the next two years, perhaps longer. Today's results will have an impact on projects decisions and even the taxation and fees that will be tied to those decisions.
For some municipalities and school systems, today's final tallies will determine whether there is harmony -- or lack of harmony -- in municipal decision-making and operations and how well public sentiments will be received and addressed.
Today's election is an "off-year" but it is not an off-year in terms of possible ramifications, negative as well as positive.
Failure to vote can be a great mistake, if a lesser-qualified candidate manages to win election by a handful of votes because no-shows assumed wrongly that the better candidate was destined to win by a sizable margin.
Use of the term "off-year" then is a terrible characterization of all that is at stake today.
Consider today's lineup of municipal offices up for grabs, but there also are countywide offices on the ballot -- district attorney, sheriff and prothonotary and clerk of courts -- as well as school board member positions. In addition, voters will be deciding questions dealing with the Second Amendment right to bear arms.
Meanwhile, one statewide exception to the local-level focus centers on the state's appellate courts, where voters are being asked to make decisions regarding the Supreme, Superior and Commonwealth courts.
On the municipal front, though, we'll focus first on Blair County's largest and most populous municipality -- Altoona -- where four council seats will be filled and an equal number of seats will be filled on the Altoona Area School Board.
Similar situations hold true in the county's boroughs and townships, where council, mayoral and supervisor contests will be among the offices decided -- and voters in those municipalities also will elect school board members and add their input regarding state judicial races.
So, the term "off-year" really is a misnomer, because it belittles the important responsibility that voters should feel obligated to carry out.
Whether by mail-in, absentee ballot or voting in person, every voter's decision matters in no small way.