Over the last decade, Utah turnout figures for so-called off-year elections - when there is no presidential contest on the ballot - have been running some 45 percent to 52 percent of registered voters. Presidential years - which, in Utah, are also the years for electing governors - draw turnouts as high as last election's 76 percent.

That is understandable, perhaps, given all the ink and airtime devoted to the ticket-topping races. But it's not logical, given how many members of Congress, the Utah Legislature, county councils and school boards will be selected.

Nor, with all the lengths that state and county elections officials have gone to this year to make it easier to vote, is it excusable. Election officials have been receiving voters in county clerks' offices since Oct. 10. Additional satellite voting locations are available.

As of Monday morning, state officials had counted more than 15,000 voters who had taken advantage of the early voting opportunities. In Salt Lake County alone, that number topped 8,300.

Even voters who may be turned off by lopsided poll numbers or partisan politics ought to be participating. That's especially true in Salt Lake, Utah and Summit counties, where special ballot questions on matters very close to home will be decided.

Salt Lake and Utah counties are each voting on their own local sales tax issues, adding a quarter-cent tax to fund commuter rail through both counties and expansions of the popular TRAX light rail system in Salt Lake County. Summit County will decide whether to change its form of government.

Those are all things that matter, and none of them will turn on turnout in Florida or Ohio. It's all on us.

Vote.

* EARLY VOTING IN SALT LAKE COUNTY is open at the Salt Lake County Clerk's Office, 2100 South State, weekdays through Monday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Additional locations will be open from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. today through Thursday, and from noon to 5 p.m. Friday. Those locations are: Kearns Oquirrh Park Fitness Center, 5624 S. 4800 West; West Valley City Hall, 3600 S. Constitution Blvd.; Central City Recreation Center, 615 S. 300 East; Northwest Recreation Center, 1300 W. 300 North; and the Sandy Library, 10100 S. Petunia Way (1405 East). Photo ID is required.

EARLY VOTING IN SALT LAKE COUNTY is open at the Salt Lake County Clerk's Office, 2100 South State, weekdays through Monday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Additional locations will be open from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. today through Thursday, and from noon to 5 p.m. Friday. Information is available at 468-3427 or at http://www.clerk.slco.org/.

* EARLY VOTING IN SALT LAKE COUNTY is open at the Salt Lake County Clerk's Office, 2100 South State, weekdays through Monday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Additional locations will be open from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. today through Thursday, and from noon to 5 p.m. Friday. Those locations are: Kearns Oquirrh Park Fitness Center, 5624 S. 4800 West; West Valley City Hall, 3600 S. Constitution Blvd.; Central City Recreation Center, 615 S. 300 East; Northwest Recreation Center, 1300 W. 300 North; and the Sandy Library, 10100 S. Petunia Way (1405 East). Photo ID is required.