Today we present

a special Election Day version of Hits & Misses:

HIT: To all of the men and women whose names are on the ballots for today's elections.

It takes a tremendous amount of courage to put yourself in the public eye to seek public office, and it takes considerable sacrifices on the part of candidates and their families to run a campaign.

And for the overwhelming majority of candidates, the major motivation for doing this is not to boost egos and grab power, but simply to serve the community.

Win or lose, they should be proud of what they've done - and they all deserve some thanks.

MISS: To the lack of contested races in local elections.

For most races in most towns, voters won't have a choice because candidates are running unopposed.

Perhaps it's a reflection of how busy people have become these days, but no matter what the reason is for this lack of interest, it's simply not good for democracy.

HIT: To all of the Election Day community breakfasts, lunches, bake sales and dinners taking place.

It's a wonderful scene that plays out every year in small towns as people come out to vote and then attend one of these events to catch up with friends and just appreciate their community.

We've got a bunch listed on our calendar page, A8, in today's print edition if you're interested in going.

MISS: To registered voters who fail to cast a ballot.

We know we're being redundant because Monday's editorial was dedicated to encouraging people to get out to vote, but it can't be stressed enough. We are so fortunate to live in a place where we can choose our political representatives and we can do it safely.