Some of you may already have voted; most will probably wait until the polls open Nov. 5. Either way, this year’s general election for city and school board members is important — just as important on a personal level, in fact, as next year’s presidential election.

Granted, policies created in Washington, D.C. affect our lives and most are worthy of debate. However, the influence of a city council or school board member is more direct, more grassroots. They determine the policies your children must follow every time they are in a classroom and whether or not to repair the streets you take to work daily. They also have a huge impact on your pocketbooks through their budget decisions.

In many cases, only one candidate is running for a school board or city council seat. That does not mean this election is without decisions. Wilson is loaded with choices for mayor and council; USD 112 has a spirited contest, Ellsworth has four candidates running for three seats on the council and Lorraine has three candidates seeking the job of mayor.

Taking a few minutes of your day to vote is time well spent.

We also would point out that the November ballot has a constitutional question aimed at the adjustment of census numbers. The amendment has the support of Secretary of State Scott Schwab, a Republican, who considers the adjustment requirement as “burdensome, antiquated and expensive ... Kansas is the only state in the nation that continues to adjust census numbers. I think this provision of the constitution is a waste.”

Here is a summary of the issue:

“The purpose of this amendment is to eliminate the adjustment of census taken by the United States census bureau regarding nonresident military personnel and nonresident students when reapportioning the Kansas senate and house of representatives.

“A vote for this proposition would eliminate the adjustment of census taken by the United States census bureau regarding nonresident military personnel and nonresident students when reapportioning the Kansas senate and house of representatives.

“A vote against this proposition would continue in effect the requirement for the adjustment of census taken by the United States census bureau regarding nonresident military personnel and nonresident students when reapportioning the Kansas senate and house of representatives.”

For those of you who follow election results, the staff of the Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter will be at our computers and at the office of Ellsworth County election officer Shelly Vopat to bring you vote totals as they are made available. Watch our Facebook page or log into www.indyrepnews.com.

Make sure your vote is one of those counted as part of Tuesday’s election process.