After the hubbub of last fall’s presidential election, many voters in the Mahoning Valley likely view Tuesday’s primary election as uninspiring and lackluster.

Dismal turnout predictions lower than 10 percent of eligible voters by directors of the Mahoning Valley’s boards of elections bear out that disappointing sentiment.

And generally speaking, projections from county boards of election fall short of actual turnouts. We hope, however, that the Valley electorate will recognize the importance of the state and local questions on the ballot and surprise us with much higher participation Tuesday.

After all, much is at stake at the polls for grass-roots government in cities, villages, townships, school districts in Mahoning and Trumbull counties in Tuesday’s election. Those outcomes typically have far greater impact on the daily lives of local residents than the much-hyped contests for president or Congress in even-numbered years.

In Youngstown, for example, voters may well decide the next chief executive of the Valley’s largest city. The race for the Democratic nomination for mayor pits two-term incumbent Jamael Tito Brown against challenger Samantha Turner, 3rd Ward councilwoman. In this critical race on the future course of the Valley’s largest and staunchly Democratic-dominant city, a primary victory generally is tantamount to election in November.

Elsewhere in Mahoning County, tax issues are on the ballot in Austintown, Craig Beach, Lowellville and the Poland school district, along with four liquor options.

In Trumbull County, contested Democratic city council races will be decided in Warren, Niles and Girard as well as eight tax issues — including additional levies in Champion and Vienna.

Unlike years ago, even renewal property and income tax issues no longer can be perceived as guaranteed winners. In this time of towering inflation and widespread anti-tax sentiment, each and every vote can make a difference.

Also unlike most primary election seasons when many communities have nothing on the spring ballot, every precinct in the state will be open Tuesday for voting on state Issue 2.

Renewal this year of Issue 2’s State Capital Improvement Program would continue to allow the state to issue up to $2.5 billion in general obligation bonds, or $250 million per year, to assist local governments in funding crucial public infrastructure improvement projects.

That program has provided critical funding to execute about 300 road resurfacing, bridge rehabilitation, drainage system improvements, water main replacements, sanitary sewer improvements and wastewater plant upgrades in Mahoning and Trumbull counties over the past eight years.

And contrary to some public misconceptions, Issue 2, unlike property tax issues in local communities and school districts, will result in zero increases in taxation. Funds to repay project bonds are already built into state budget planning.

Those are among the reasons this newspaper recommended a yes vote on the state issue in an editorial last month.

In other races, this newspaper’s editorial board invested time in studying candidates and interviewing them on their experience, goals and priorities.

In Mahoning County races, The Vindicator has endorsed Mike Ray, 4th Ward Youngstown councilman, for the Democratic nomination for president of council and Brown for that city’s Democratic nomination for mayor.

In Trumbull County, this newspaper has endorsed John Brown, incumbent Warren City Council president, for the Democratic nomination in that race.

But regardless of who your favorite candidate is or how you stand on local and state tax issues, we urge all eligible voters in the Mahoning Valley to carve out 10 minutes of their time to play their most vital role in our representative democracy by casting ballots responsibly in Tuesday’s election.