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Vote in tomorrow’s primary election

Primary election day is tomorrow for state and local races, and registered Democrats have a big responsibility on their hands.

It is vital that they find a way — amid work and school and personal commitments — to get to their local polling places between noon and 9 p.m. and choose candidates for New York state governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general, as well as Franklin County sheriff.

The Republican, Green, Libertarian and other parties have already selected their candidates for the Nov. 6 election, but the Democrats still have multiple choices to make.

The Reform Party also faces a decision, and it’s opening its primary up to voters who are not enrolled in any other party. They will choose one of three candidates for state attorney general: Nancy Silwa, Mike Diederich and Christopher Garvey.

Many people may be unfamiliar with this particular Reform Party. It is not linked to the national Reform Party; rather, it has its roots in the Stop Common Core party line that Republican Rob Astorino created when he ran for governor in 2014.

Only registered Democrats, meanwhile, can vote in that primary. Their options on tomorrow’s ballots are as follows:

¯ For state governor, incumbent Andrew Cuomo and Cynthia Nixon

¯ For lieutenant governor, incumbent Kathy Hochul and Jurnaane Williams

¯ For attorney general, Leecia Eve, Letitia “Tish” James, Sean Patrick Maloney and Zephyr Teachout

¯ For Franklin County sheriff, Bruce Barney of Malone or Jordanna Mallach of Saranac Lake.

We’re glad to see a variety of options on this year’s ballot and glad so many women now feel confident enough to run for the state’s top offices.

We do not feel strongly enough to endorse any candidates this time around. We have many problems with how Cuomo runs this state, as regular readers of our editorials know, but we have deep concerns about Nixon’s inexperience, ignorance about upstate and potential fiscal irresponsibility. Yet even if you dislike both, it’s important to hold your nose and pick one. Society needs to hear from unexcited voters as well; they can be a steady hand balancing the swings of passionate minorities. If only the zealous vote, the results are skewed away from what most people want.

Remember, if you can vote and don’t, others will decide for you. Voting is a duty as well as a privilege people in some countries don’t have. Use it.

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