This year’s general election might not be generating all of the attention and big spending that the one we had last year did, but that doesn’t mean it is any less important.

Voters have, in elections such as this one, the opportunity to have a real say on the level that impacts their lives the most: In municipal and township government, on school boards and with tax levies.

When they cast their ballots in Tuesday’s election, residents of Steubenville, for instance, have contested races for mayor and in the Second and Fourth wards. There are contested council races in Toronto, Wintersville and Mingo Junction and a contested race for two seats on the board of the Indian Creek Local School District.

Steubenville residents will have the chance to vote on proposed changes to the city’s charter, and residents of several townships will find contested trustee races.

Many of those who vote will have a say on numerous levies. Included in that list are renewal levies for the Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County, the Indian Creek school district and ambulance and EMS equipment in Mingo Junction.

Voters in Saline Township, meanwhile, are being asked to approve an additional levy for emergency services.

It’s easy to complain about everything everyone thinks is wrong about our communities. All you have to do is check out any one of many social media sites or visit a local restaurant or coffee shop some morning. Opinions there flow as easily as fresh coffee and come in as many varieties as you’ll find in the doughnut case.

Those complaints, however, take on a different weight when they come from someone who has taken the time to learn about the candidates and issues and then made the choice to vote.

There’s no excuse for not voting — if you are registered. Ohio’s early voting procedures and absentee process have made it easy for anyone who wants to cast a ballot to do so. Some area residents already have taken advantage of those opportunities — according to the office of Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, as of noon on Friday, 1,308 Jefferson County residents had participated in early in-person voting at the Jefferson County Board of Elections, and 807 of the 1,073 absentee ballots that had been requested had been returned.

If you haven’t already voted, you can cast your ballot in person at your polling location between 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

And remember: Your vote does count, and you really can make a difference.