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Sometimes, it seems, the election gods just seem to get it right.
They know when it's time to give all of us a break.
That's good for our psyche, but it probably is not, in the long run, good for our democratic form of government.
We're going through what is, probably, the most off of all of the recent off-year election cycles. Not that we didn't need a little bit of a break, having come through one of the most contentious presidential elections many of us have ever witnessed.
And in the end, we learned, once again, about the importance of voting. There were about 155,506,321 votes cast for president in November. When all of those votes were counted, Joe Biden won not only the popular vote -- 81,283,361 to Donald Trump's 74,222,960 -- but also prevailed in the Electoral College, 306 to 232.
It was a race that truly dominated the news for much of the last six months of 2020 and even well into 2021. We were bombarded with story after story and advertisement after advertisement. It became for many of us, just too much at the end.
While the presidential election -- and because of increased voter interest and participation, many other races -- tested our patience, we now find ourselves in the middle of elections that, let's be charitable, are not quite as dominating.
Which is tough to understand, since it is an election that really can affect us on the local level.
Ohio's primary election will be held on May 4 this year. If you live in Jefferson County, there will be little for you to vote on. And if you live in Harrison County, there will be nothing for you to vote on. In fact, the Harrison County Board of Elections has posted a notice that says because of a lack of candidates and issues requiring a primary election, there will be no primary election held in the county.
Things are a little better in Jefferson County -- residents of all precincts in Steubenville will be able to vote, as will people who live in the unincorporated areas of Cross Creek Township.
Steubenville residents are being asked to renew a couple of income tax issues that will help the city continue to offer its many services. Issue 1, which is the renewal of the city's 0.7 percent income tax, which provides money for street improvements and equipment, parks and recreation capital improvements and the general fund. When it comes to Issue 2, 85 percent of the money raised through the 0.3 percent income tax will go to the payment of salaries of municipal employees and 15 percent will go to street improvements.
City residents have been supportive of the income taxes for many years now -- Issue 1 has been renewed every five years since it was first passed in 1981, and Issue 2 has been renewed every since it was first passed in 1986.
Cross Creek Township voters, meanwhile, will be voting on the renewal of a 1-mill, five-year property tax levy that covers general construction, reconstruction, resurfacing and repair of streets, roads and bridges.
There's only one contested race in Steubenville on May 4 --that comes on the Democrat side in the Fourth Ward, where incumbent Scott Dressel is being challenged by community activist Royal Mayo. No Republican filed for the seat, so unless an independent candidate files before the 4 p.m. May 3 deadline, the primary election will decide who holds the post.
Only incumbent Mayor Jerry Barilla, a Republican, has filed for that seat, and only one candidate, Republican Michael Hernon, has filed for the 6th Ward seat being vacated by Bob Villamagna, who has chosen not to run for re-election.
That means it's very likely that only residents of the city's 2nd Ward will have to vote in the Nov. 2 general election. Incumbent Craig Petrella is the only candidate to file on the Democratic side, while Tracy McManamon has filed on the Republican side.
In Toronto, only Democrats Frank McEwen Jr. -- president of city council -- and James W. Orsini -- treasurer -- have filed, with Democrat Ronald L. Holmes and Republican Mike Burkey having filed for Toronto council at large.
No candidate from either party filed for treasurer or an open seat on Mingo Junction Village Council.
Early voting started Tuesday, and runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Jefferson County Board of Elections through April 29. On April 30, the hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; on May 1, hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; on May 2, hours are 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; and on May 3, hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
If you vote on May 4, the polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
A lack of candidates in recent local elections has become a problem -- fewer and fewer people are willing to make the commitment of time and effort required to be effective at any elected position. Others just don't want to open themselves up for the barrage of criticism that comes with the positions.
Voters can be a part of the issue, as well. If you are the type of person who votes just once every four years when a presidential election comes around, you should become the type of person who sees it as his or her duty to become informed and vote in every election.
If you aren't registered to vote now, it's too late to do so for the May 4 primary. But you will have until Oct. 4 to register to vote in November.
Remember, in 2022 Ohioans will be selecting a replacement for U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, who has decided to not seek re-election. Candidates from both parties already are lining up to make their runs in next year's primary. And, if you are really looking ahead, Biden already has said he likely will seek re-election in 2024 -- and potential Republican challengers already are trying to build interest in their campaigns for that general election, which will be held Nov. 5.
Make sure you are involved -- our system can work well only if we have qualified candidates who are willing to seek office and citizens who are willing to participate in the voting process.
(Gallabrese, a resident of Steubenville, is executive editor of the Herald-Star and The Weirton Daily Times.)