But that's only part of the story of this election. Nationally, it's also about tax cuts and immigration and scandal. That's as true in Utah as it is elsewhere in the Union. But in the Beehive State, this election also is about state income-tax cuts and education funding and roads, the kinds of things that affect families closest to home. That's because, in addition to one U.S. senator and three congressmen, all of the state House of Representatives and half of the Senate is up for election.

In Salt Lake and Utah counties, it's about even more. It's about whether voters will approve quarter-cent sales tax increases to finance more TRAX lines and road projects (in Salt Lake County) and the Frontrunner commuter rail (in Utah County and, to a lesser extent, in Salt Lake County).

And if that were not enough, voters in Salt Lake County also will decide whether to increase their property taxes to preserve open space and buy land for parks and trails. They also will decide whether to give their county government permission to bond against Zoo, Arts and Parks tax revenues to build more recreation projects sooner.

In Summit County, the form of government itself is on the ballot. Voters there will decide whether to replace their three-member county commission with a five-member council elected at large and a professional county manager who would be hired by the council.

In short, it's hard to conceive of a midterm election, one in which the president is not on the ballot, in which more could be at stake.

Political analysts prattle endlessly about polls during the run-up to any election. But the only poll that matters is the one that takes place today, in which all citizens are invited to cast their ballots.

No matter what you believe about that war in Iraq, at some level it is about trying to bring democracy to one of the cradles of human civilization. It's about voting.

So, how about it, Utah? If you believe in democracy, today's the day to show it.

Vote.