Today is Election Day, the culmination of what feels like two years of campaigning by presidential candidates.

More than $1 billion will have been spent by Vice President Kamala Harris, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump in an effort to secure your vote.

Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been spent across the state on statewide offices in Pennsylvania. Locally we have a contested race for the state House of Representatives between Democrat Erin Willman and incumbent Republican Kathy Rapp.

So let’s make sure this is money well spent by heading out to the polls today. More than 3,000 mail-in ballots have been sent to Warren County voters. For everyone else, today is the day to go to your polling place and make your choice.

For candidates, it’s pretty much all over but the waiting. Hands have been shaken. Positions have been stated. Babies have been kissed. This election is now in the hands of the voters.

Our only lament is that turnout and, more importantly, interest won’t be as high next year when local offices are on the ballot.

Candidates will spend just as much time shaking hands and going door to door. The positions they take are just as important to you – they just aren’t amplified on television or whichever streaming service you use. But these are the people you will be calling when you feel traffic in your neighborhood needs additional enforcement or when your local tax bill is higher than you’d like. Good local representation is invaluable.

So, to those who will vote today or who have already voted, thank you. We hope you remain engaged once a winner is crowned in this year’s presidential election.

For those who didn’t vote, another opportunity is coming in 12 months – and those races are just as important as 2024’s big prize.