Interest in municipal elections has waned dramatically over the decades.
In the late 1950s, for example, as many as 80 per cent of eligible voters voted in Truro.
In 2008, by contrast, just 39 per cent bothered to travel to a polling station.
Of course, there was no mayoral race four years ago but 39 per cent still rates a big fat F in our books.
We're happy to report, however, that there seems to be a bit of a buzz in the air regarding next month's elections.
It starts in Truro where there figures to be a spirited race in all three wards, for mayor and for the local school board seat.
In 2008, there was only a race in Ward 2 and 3 and for school board.
In Colchester County, Bob Taylor returns by acclamation (and let's face it, he wouldn't have been beaten anyway) but there are 24 candidates for the 11 councillor positions compared to just 17 four years ago.
Hopefully, that will offset the lack of a mayor's race and lead to a larger voter turnout.
The Town of Stewiacke, meanwhile, has 11 candidates (including four incumbents) vying for six seats. Deputy mayor Wendy Robinson will be the new mayor by acclamation.
Of interest, too, is the fact that Truro is moving to all electronic voting. That's right. No more ballot boxes.
But before anyone panics, rest assured that everything possible is being done to ensure all those without a home computer, iPhone, etc. will be able to vote. Heck, you can even vote by touch-tone phone so there are no excuses, right?
Toss in the mayor's race and the Truro turnout should spike dramatically. Anything less would be embarrassing.
Stewiacke voters could vote electronically or by paper ballot in 2008 and will do so again.
The county is still old school with ballot boxes only but no doubt the Truro experiment will be watched with interest. If it goes off without a hitch don't be surprised if everyone in Colchester County is voting from the comfort of home in 2016.
Now we're into campaign mode and in just over a month community-minded citizens have some difficult decisions to make.
We salute all the candidates who have put their names forward. Election day on Oct. 20 should prove very interesting.
