Lines wrap around the building, newly registered voters are brought to polling places and “I voted” stickers become the biggest fashion statement of the season every time a presidential election takes place.

However, the three other years of a voting cycle find no lines, empty voting booths, and the only reminder of elections coming from the signs of people you don’t want to bother to remember their names.

As of Saturday, only 1,352 Newton County citizens have cast their votes, with an additional 299 coming in from absentee ballots. That adds up to 1,651 ballots cast for the 2014 primary elections. That also adds up to about 33 percent of the roughly 55,000 registered voters in Newton County.

Not only is this sad, but this makes no sense to us.

The president has 50 states and international governments to concern himself with pleasing. The representatives, congressmen, councilmen, commissioners, mayors and governors who also need our vote, have to concern themselves with pleasing their local constitutions.

It’s no concern to them if Colorado wants to legalize marijuana. It’s no concern to them how Russia affects Covington.

No, their concerns are Newton County schools, Newton County jobs, Newton County roads.

So if these politicians, in whom many are not yet active players in the nasty political game that comes with presidential and congressional seats, are concerned with local issues, shouldn’t you be?

These elections are more important to you as these are the people who represent you in the county, city, state and nation.

It’s easier than ever to vote. Early voting means no lines. You can find information about candidates and the needs of your area anywhere you want it — newspaper, computer, phones, tablets. Why is there little regard for getting out and picking your representative?

Fantasy football drafts are at an all-time high, and that takes hours of preparation to pick your representative — in a fictional reality. So why can’t a few minutes be given to pick people who will actually have an effect on your life?

People love to eat local now, with fresh farmer’s markets everywhere. So why can’t they vote local?

There are still three days left to vote before the crowds, and then you have Tuesday to help determine who will represent key parties and in several cases who will be your voice.

There’s no need to wait until 2016 to pick someone who will never hear your voice.

Vote local and vote now.