Today is the day to cast your ballot

This election season has been unusually polarizing, with many proclaiming their love for one candidate or party and their disdain for the other.

It's happening everywhere — cable news programs, in social media, even in the comments section on YumaSun.com.

It doesn't matter which side of the debate most people fall on — whichever it is, they've got strong opinions in favor of or against candidates.

But today is the day to make those opinions official.

Hopefully, that happens, but it's concerning that recent voting statistics have been so low here.

In the primary election in August, only about 20 percent of registered voters turned out to cast their ballots in Yuma County — a scary number when one considers there were nearly 74,000 registered voters here.

We hope that with races on the ballot ranging from U.S. senator to the Yuma County Board of Supervisors and Yuma County Sheriff to Superior Court judges — not to mention the next U.S. president — we'll see a much higher voter turnout today.

And don't forget, there are propositions too — nine with statewide implications. And the residents of Yuma also need to vote on the city's general plan.

There are some positive signs though that Yuma County may have a strong turnout today. A total of 39,897 early ballots were sent out, and as of Monday afternoon, the Yuma County Recorder's Office had processed more than 23,000 returned early ballots and ballots cast at the office. And, 771 voters took advantage of the weekend hours to vote in advance of Election Day.

A final positive sign? Our number of registered voters has increased from the primary — from 73,988 to 75,573 for the general election. It's a small increase, but a sign that Yuma County residents want to be heard.

Head to the polls today, Yuma. You can vote from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. at one of 11 voting centers.

The Yuma County Elections Office has made it as simple as possible this year to vote. Simply head to a poll — any one of the 11 — and cast your vote.

It's vital to get out today and vote. It's your right, as a U.S. citizen, and also your duty.