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. Another $250,000 has been raised by the two candidates seeking to replace the retiring Andy Goodell in the state Assembly.

So let’s make sure this is money well spent by heading out to the polls today. Early voting, so often a disappointing exercise, has been packed this year. As of Wednesday, more than 8,800 Chautauqua County residents had cast a ballot at one of the county’s four early polling sites. We expect turnout to remain high today.

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 have a boil-water order or taxes increase at a high rate.

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.