Primaries are synonymous with low voter turnout.

But that hasn’t prepared elections officials in the Twin Counties from being surprised by the trickle of early voters making their way to the one-stop voting sites.

No-excuse, one-stop voting began in earnest Thursday. Despite being labeled “no-excuse” voting, we still find reasons and excuses to stay home.

• Primaries aren’t that important.
• Primaries aren’t the real deal – those elections are six months away.
• Primaries are partisan affairs.

Anyone who takes a look at a primary ballot can debunk all of these myths instantly. Only those who come out to vote in the primaries will have a say in whether the N.C. Constitution will be amended to ban gay marriage.

If Nash County residents want to vote in the referendum on the community college’s bond initiative, they’ll have to get to the polls by May 8.

Some congressional and some N.C. House and N.C. Senate races will be decided in the primary.

Voters who pick up a Democratic Party primary ballot will get to nominate a candidate to replace Gov. Bev Perdue, who isn’t running for re-election. Republicans will pick their candidate for governor as well as a candidate for president.

Pick an excuse, then go to the polls.