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Some observations about this week's primary election:
• Just about every time an election comes around, you hear a lot of talk about the importance of voting.
And you should, because no matter where you stand on the political spectrum or what you think about the process, the simple task of casting a ballot remains among the most important aspects of being a responsible citizen.
That's why the turnout in Tuesday's primary election was more than a little disappointing. According to the Jefferson County Board of Elections, just 22.22 percent of the county's 46,215 registered voters cast a ballot.
It's likely a lack of choices played a pretty big role in that number.
One of the big things that seems to motivate voters every four years -- in the primary and then the general election -- is the race for president. That wasn't the case this year --with President Joe Biden having already wrapped up the Democratic nomination and former President Donald Trump having already secured the Republican nomination, that dependable draw went by the wayside.
Maybe it's something state officials should look at for the future. It makes sense to move Ohio's primary to March in presidential election years, but the date should correspond with Super Tuesday. That way the state will remain a relevant part of the presidential nomination process. If not, maybe Ohio should leave every primary in May, when it currently is in non-presidential election years.
• Everyone in the county who voted Tuesday had the chance to decide the fate of the senior services levy. The 1.2-mill replacement levy passed handily, with 6,870 votes for and 3,132 votes against. The levy gained its biggest support in Steubenville's 4-1 precinct, where it earned yes votes from 82.09 percent of the voters. The lowest support -- 53.7 percent -- came from Saline Township.
• Republican and Democrat voters in the county did have a few choices to make: The GOP had a contested primary for the Jan. 2 seat with the county commissioners, which was won by Ron "Jake" Kleineke with 77.55 percent of the votes cast, giving him a 4,757 to 1,377 advantage over Raymond Freund.
Votes in both parties also selected nominees for the 6th District congressional seat that became empty when Bill Johnson stepped down to become president at Youngstown State University.
Michael Rulli won the race on the GOP side, thanks to strong showings in Mahoning and Columbiana counties. Reggie Stoltzfus was the winner in Jefferson, Belmont, Carroll, Harrison, Monroe, Noble, Stark, Tuscarawas and Washington counties.
On the Democrat side, Michael Kripchak won the nomination, finishing first in each of the district's counties.
Rulli and Kripchak were winners twice Tuesday, claiming party nominations for the June 11 special election that will fill Johnson's unexpired term and for the November general election.
Republican voters in Jefferson County also supported Bernie Moreno in the three-way battle for the party's nomination for the right to face longtime Democrat incumbent Sherrod Brown in November. Moreno earned 53.76 percent of the vote in Jefferson County, a number that was a little bigger than the 50.5 percent he earned statewide.
• Jefferson County's turnout was low, but it was very much in line with the state as a whole. According to the secretary of state's office, just 22.03 percent of Ohio's 8,031,161 registered voters cast a ballot Tuesday.
Turnout was a little higher in the counties in our immediate region: In Harrison County it was 31.37 percent (3,078 of 9,812 registered voters); in Columbiana County it was 27.19 percent (17,657 of 64,928 registered voters); in Carroll County it was 26.6 percent (4,801 of 18,048 registered voters); and in Belmont County it was 26.49 percent (11,705 of 44,180 voters.)
• Attention will now turn to the late spring and fall campaigns, where it seems like the presidential race will continue to attract a great deal of interest, as will the Senate race. All that will be at stake will be control of the White House and of the Senate -- important factors as we head into this year's rendition of "The Biggest Election of Our Lifetime."
There also will be contested races for several county offices and you can expect to see a levy or two thrown into the mix. But first will come the June 11 special election, and if you are interested in voting in that election and are not registered, you don't have a lot of time to complete that process. That deadline to register or update your registration is May 13.
And, if you are looking ahead to November, the deadline to register or update your registration will be Oct. 7.
There will be lots of discussion about politics on the local, state and national levels between now and June 11 and then Nov. 5. In addition to all of the local campaigning we will see, it's likely we'll get a lot of attention from the Senate campaigns of Moreno and Brown, as well as the House campaigns of Rulli and Kripchak.
Listen to what they say, and make sure you vote and let your voice be heard.
(Gallabrese, a resident of Steubenville, is executive editor of the Herald-Star and The Weirton Daily Times.)