Today's off-year election should not be regarded as "off year" as registered voters contemplate whether to go to the polls.

Actually, the term "off year," as it applies to those elections when state and federal legislative seats are not on the ballot, is an unfortunate characterization, since most of the offices up for grabs are positions closest to the voters.

Today, voters will elect three county commissioners and cast votes for some county row offices. At the same time, the voters will make choices regarding city, borough and township offices, and all school districts will have seats for the voters to fill.

But state offices will not totally be absent from the ballot; the voters will be making decisions on a number of appellate court seats.

Having opened at 7 a.m., the polls will remain open until 8 p.m., providing a 13-hour window for registered voters to exercise their civic responsibility.

The importance of the county commissioners' contest is in itself strong enough justification for the voters to go out of their way or postpone something else, if necessary, in order to cast their ballots.

Adding to the interest of that contest will be two write-in challengers vying for votes against the four candidates who are on the ballot by virtue of victories in last spring's primary elections. Three of the six candidates will be selected to guide the county for the next four years — what most county residents agree will be a critical time for the county.

Some voters routinely offer to provide transportation to friends or neighbors who might not otherwise be able to get to the polls. It is to be hoped that that spirit of generosity prevails again today.

Meanwhile, it is to be hoped that Cranberry Township, which traditionally is one of the lowest-turnout areas of the county, will be able to muster newfound election enthusiasm.

For Butler voters, the primary focus will be which two of the three candidates on the ballot have the best qualifications and ideas to guide the city's fortunes for the next four years.

In addition to the issue of who will guide the county, the city council race is vitally important from the standpoint of the city's future direction. There are many city projects in the planning stages that must be advanced.

The city government must not be allowed to revert to the "caretaker" ways of the past, when there was little accomplished and the community's infrastructure was allowed to deteriorate. Caretaker government conducts routine business and little else, and there is plenty of evidence today that such an atitude existed in the city for too many years of the past few decades.

Voter turnout in off-year elections generally aren't as heavy as in elections in which state and federal legislative seats are on the ballot — or a race for governor or president of the United States. That said, it would be a great achievement for this county's registered voters if they made this election a radical exception.

Those who mustered the courage, determination and initiative to pursue public office in this year's races deserve plaudits for attempting to be a "part of the solution" to bring about a better Butler County.

Win or lose, they have made an important contribution toward that goal.