Care about your city? Then you’d better vote.

If Tuesday's election is anything like previous city elections, only about one out of every five registered voters will bother to cast a ballot.

In fact, if early voting activity is an indicator, this year's turnout could be lower than average. That's unacceptable. But it's not inevitable.

Municipal races seldom include the glitz and glamour of national political contests, but they're every bit as important - in some ways more important - as those higher-profile races.

Your city council makes decisions that affect your daily life, from the streets you drive to the downtown skyline to the parks where your children play.

Candidates are running in contested races in most of the Corridor's municipal elections. They've spent time meeting with voters and answering their questions, explaining their positions in public forums and in these pages. Once again, we thank each and every one who has stepped forward to serve.

Still, even though it's been nearly a month after early voting began for city council races, only 1,037 Linn County voters had cast a ballot as of Tuesday, according to auditor's figures. In Johnson County, the number was even fewer - 630 votes.

Early vote totals often are a good indication of how engaged voters are in a particular election cycle. The meager turnout so far is not a hopeful sign.

But there's plenty of time to change that.

Even if you haven't paid much attention to your city's election so far, you can quickly get up to speed on www.thegazette.com, where we've posted news articles about local races and guest columns from candidates in Cedar Rapids, Marion, Hiawatha, Iowa City, North Liberty and Mount Vernon.

If you don't know when or where you should go to vote, your county auditor's office will be more than happy to help you out.

Local elections don't dominate headlines, but they are the perfect chance to make your voice heard. Lower turnout makes each vote that much more important.

The people you elect on Tuesday will make decisions affecting your neighborhood, your community and your life for years to come.

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ELECTION INFORMATION

Johnson County: (319) 356-6004; www.jcauditor.com

Linn County: (319) 892-5300; www.linncounty.org/157/Election-Services