In just 34 days, Gloucester and Mathews voters will go to the polls and cast their ballots for candidates in state and local offices.

The November 3 election includes all constitutional offices, some seats on county boards of supervisors and school boards, and all members of the Virginia General Assembly.

Not many races are contested this year, but some are, and the outcomes should be of interest to every individual who owns a home, rents a home, visits a home, or spends much time in Gloucester and Mathews.

Truly, the first responsibility of citizenship is exercising the right to vote.

On voting

The deadline to be listed on the rolls of voters for the Nov. 3 election is 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 13. No matter what else you do before the election, be sure you are registered.

Virginia has consistently eased the means of registering in the past 20 years. It is possible to register online (see elections.virginia.gov), in a local voter registration office (info: Gloucester, 693-3659;...