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Learn what’s on the ballot and vote Tuesday

Tuesday’s elections aren’t on the same scale as a year ago, when Donald Trump became president.

Yes, hard to believe a year has gone by since that tumultuous nationwide vote.

This year’s version is much more low-key, with no state or national races on the ballot, except the special election to our north for the 109th District state House seat to replace the late John Kivela, D-Marquette.

Yet our region still has a number of important local races and issues, on both sides of the border, that warrant showing up at the polls Tuesday.

Kingsford and Norway have contested races for their city councils. And school districts for Breitung Township, Forest Park and, in Wisconsin, Florence County all have separate tax issues to raise additional funds for various specific purposes. Iron County, too, has a 911 surcharge renewal on the ballot.

The Daily News had a rundown of races in Friday’s paper. For Michigan residents, sample ballots also can be viewed at the Michigan Voter Information Center, www.michigan.gov/vote.

Polls in both Michigan and Wisconsin will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday.

For Michigan voters, some other rules to be aware of going into Tuesday’s election:

— Voters must fulfill identification requirements under Michigan law. They will be asked to present valid photo ID at the polls, such as a Michigan driver’s license or identification card.

— Anyone who does not have an acceptable form of photo ID or failed to bring it with them may still vote. They will sign a brief affidavit stating that they’re not in possession of a photo ID. Their ballots will be included with all others and counted on Election Day.

— Emergency absentee ballots are available under certain conditions through 4 p.m. Tuesday.

— Residents who registered to vote by mail or via a voter registration drive and have never voted in Michigan are not eligible to vote by absentee ballot in their first election. They must vote in person at their precinct. This restriction does not apply to voters who are overseas, disabled or age 60 or older.

Again, this vote could have some significant ramifications to some area communities or school districts. Stay home and you, in essence, have no standing to complain if the outcome isn’t what you wanted to see.

So do some research on what’s on Tuesday’s ballot and, if potentially affected, go to the polls and vote.

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