Northern Kentucky may never reach the point where there are more candidates on the ballot than there are voters at the polls, but sometimes you wonder. Today's primary features more contested races than in past years, yet voter turnout could reach new lows.

Northern Kentucky poll-watchers predict that barely 10 percent of registered voters will show up, but that percentage could dip into single digits in some counties. Statewide, officials today are expecting a turnout of 15 percent or so.

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• Davis GOP's best in race for Congress • For seats in the Kentucky General Assembly

Last year, 17 percent of Kentucky voters cast ballots, with Campbell (10 percent), Kenton (8.6 percent) and Boone (7.8 percent) counties lagging.

Ohioans did better in their March 2 primary, with a 32.4 percent turnout, 28 percent in Hamilton County. But that was back when there was still a semblance of a race for the Democratic presidential nomination. Kentucky voters seemingly have little incentive today.

Too bad. Local, county and state nominations being decided could do more to affect the day-to-day lives of the average Kentuckian than national-level elections. It's a shame these races may be decided by a tiny sliver of the electorate. Northern Kentucky voters shouldn't stand for that. Prove the predictions wrong. Go to the polls today.

Politicians have done their part by making many primary races competitive, in some cases hotly contested. As the Associated Press reported Monday, it's part of a trend toward a reinvigorated, competitive two-party system in the Bluegrass State.

Unlike previous decades of unchallenged Democratic dominance, the GOP has fielded candidates for 34 state House seats held by Democrats. And six GOP incumbents in the state Senate have primary opponents.

"Our goal is to make every race competitive," state GOP chairman John McCarthy said.

That's a great goal for both parties. But it also means they must have something to compete for - namely, a genuine mandate from the voters.

So get out and vote. It matters.

We endorse ...

• 4th U.S. House (all of N.Ky.), GOP: Geoff Davis
• 11th Ky. Senate (Boone, Gallatin, portion of Kenton), GOP: Dick Roeding
• 66th Ky. House (northern Boone County), GOP: Ed Massey
• 67th Ky. House (northern Campbell County), Dem.: Ken Rechtin
• 61st Ky. House (Gallatin, Grant, Owen), GOP: Pamela Mann