But there is no doubt the steadfast Republican will be punching her ballot, despite the fact her name appears nowhere on it. It's a lifelong habit - one that she feels is her duty as a citizen.

"It's critical," says Walker. "You just have to keep pounding that through."

Utah voters are facing the last 50 days of an intense campaign season with much at stake. They will pick the first new governor in 12 years, sift through dozens of candidates in other races and decide whether to change the state constitution. No need to persuade Magna retiree Nina Zabriskie to go to vote. She already is looking forward to making the trek to her polling place at Cyprus High School.

"I think one more vote will help my people out that I like to get elected," she says.

Although she supports President Bush and votes "mostly Republican," Zabriskie will cast her vote for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Scott Matheson Jr.

"I would have voted for Walker, but the Republicans wouldn't put her in. You bet I'm mad," Zabriskie said.

Anger works in elections. So does fear.

Kathie Mascherino, 22, credits a different motivation.

"I vote most of the time. Ever since I turned 18 it has been an exciting thing to be part of," says the Salt Lake Community College sophomore.

But she sees how a lot of people her age don't bother.

"There's just the everyday hustle and you kind of get caught up in your own life," Mascherino says, adding campaigns sometimes seem to strive for the irrelevant. She points to the continued raging debate over the Vietnam-era military service of Bush and Democrat John Kerry.

"It's in the past and I know history repeats itself, but they need to focus on what's going on in our country now and our troops overseas and getting them home."

More Utahns will cast ballots in the presidential race than any other, even though the state's five electoral votes already are being counted as in the bank for Bush. But there are plenty of other contests in the Beehive State that are competitive and offer voters a real chance to decide the direction of their government.

Utahns will choose between Matheson and Republican Jon Huntsman Jr. High-profile scandals in Salt Lake County have left the mayor's office up for grabs. Democratic Congressman Jim Matheson is once again fighting to retain his seat in a district that is heavily Republican. And in the state Senate, Democrats believe they have a shot at breaking the ironclad, three-quarters GOP majority.

Voters also have a full menu of other contests, from a mostly quiet struggle between U.S. Sen. Bob Bennett and Democratic challenger Paul Van Dam to school boards and judicial elections in some of the state's most populous districts.

Three proposed constitutional amendments will appear on the ballot - the most controversial of which would solidify Utah's ban on same-sex marriage or other forms of "domestic unions." The remaining two provisions would empower lawmakers to call themselves into emergency session to impeach a governor and would legalize universities' practice of taking stock in companies developed from research spin-offs.

A citizens' initiative would authorize a one-twentieth of 1 cent sales tax increase to pour $150 million into preserving open lands, wildlife habitat, parks and trails.

Race for governor: In the Huntsman-Matheson showdown, the son of industrialist-philanthropist Jon Huntsman Sr. faces the son of former Gov. Scott Matheson Sr.

The main difference between the two juniors to date has been Huntsman's primary focus on economic development and high-paying jobs, while Matheson singles out education as the marquee issue.

Huntsman strongly opposes the federal No Child Left Behind program and has said he would push to withdraw the state even if it ultimately would cost more than $100 million in forfeit federal aid. The Democrat says No Child Left Behind has flaws but can be fixed.

Matheson opposes tuition-tax credits or vouchers for parents sending students to private schools. Huntsman wants to try tuition-tax credits on a limited basis, for students with disabilities.

Challenge on the Hill: In the U.S. Senate race, Van Dam accuses Bennett of facilitating Bush's plan to resume nuclear testing near the Utah state line, while Bennett says legislation he has drafted would give Utahns a voice and provide protections in the event of such a program.

In the 2nd Congressional District, two-term Rep. Jim Matheson faces a rematch with Republican John Swallow.

"Nuclear waste" may become fighting words in this campaign. Matheson opposes any storage of nuclear trash in Utah. Swallow, too, says he opposes dumping, but residents attending the San Juan Republican County Convention in April said he indicated support for studying a proposal to store high-level waste.

Democratic underdogs in Utah's 1st and 3rd Congressional district races criticize Republican incumbent Reps. Rob Bishop and Chris Cannon for a lack of leadership and for having lost touch with Utah voters. But Logan City Councilman Steve Thompson and South Salt Lake Police Capt. Beau Babka don't appear to have much of a chance to unseat the sitting congressmen.

Thompson attacks one-term Bishop for promoting regulatory changes that would have allowed the disposal of more radioactive waste in Utah. Bishop pledges to work for increased military spending as a way to keep America safe and protect Hill Air Force Base from a base-closing initiative. Babka criticizes four-term Cannon for sitting back while Utah is last nationally in per-pupil spending and seniors are burdened with skyrocketing prescription and Medicare costs.

Cannon's plans for the near future include lobbying for passage of a controversial bill to give some migrant farm workers temporary legal resident status. Critics complain the "temporary" provision would allow undocumented workers to obtain citizenship.

On the local level: Salt Lake County Mayor Nancy Workman doesn't plan to change much if elected to a second term - her campaign slogan has been "It's Working." She promises no higher taxes, boosting economic development and tourism and to fight against a proposed Broadway-style theater in downtown Salt Lake City.

But Workman's political career hangs in the balance because she faces two felonies for alleged misuse of public money. Polls show Democratic candidate Peter Corroon, a political newcomer, leading the race, and he has pledged to bring "responsible leadership" to the office. He also wants to keep taxes low, enhance economic development and beef up affordable housing.

Unaffiliated candidate Merrill Cook, a former congressman, wants to make the county government officially nonpartisan, as well as improve residents' trust in their leaders.

Control of the County Council also hangs in the balance in this election. If Democrats win three of the seats, they could take control of the nine-person council.

Democrats also are hoping to make a dent in the Republican-ruled statehouse.

The minority party hopes to pick up three or four seats in the state Senate, where Republicans now prevail 22-7. Among the most competitive contests is the Senate District 8 race between Cottonwood Heights Republican Sen. Carlene Walker and Democrat Lewis Garrett.

"The Democrats are just salivating to get it back," Walker says of her seat.

In the House, where Republicans dominate 56-19, hotly contested races are between Republican Rep. Chad Bennion and Democrat Tim Cosgrove in the Murray area and GOP Rep. Susan Lawrence and Democrat Gary Sackett in the East Millcreek area.

Utah's judges are appointed by the governor, but voters periodically get the chance to either keep them on the bench or send them packing - as they do this year. A judge must only receive more "yes" than "no" votes to keep the job.

Many voters staring at the long list of unfamiliar judges on the ballot might ask, "Why bother?"

Dotti Durtschi, 32, of West Jordan, used to be among those.

But that was before she found herself in divorce court and decided 3rd District Court Judge David Young had treated her unfairly. In 2002, she helped with a grass-roots effort that ended in Young becoming the first state court judge voted out of office.

"Before, I really didn't think the power of change was in the hands of the citizens, but it is," Durtschi says.

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Tribune reporters Kirsten Stewart, Thomas Burr, Elizabeth Neff, Rebecca Walsh and Nicole Warburton contributed to this report.