Today is Election Day.

It's not a big one, compared to even-numbered years. There are no statewide measures or offices on the ballot. In some parts of the valley, there will be no election at all.

If you live in Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs, Coachella, the areas covered by the Desert Water Agency or Mission Springs Water District, or any of the special districts that have issues on today's ballot, The Desert Sun encourages you get to the polls.

Participatory democracy works best when lots of people participate, and we fear that without a major measure or candidate pushing people to the polls, this could be a dismal turnout.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Riverside County Registrar Barbara Dunmore said Monday that she doesn't have a crystal ball, but she looks back at historical trends.

With an odd-year election without statewide issues, she expects a 21 percent turnout today.

“It shouldn't be much different,” Dunmore said. “In November '03, it was 18 percent, so we're hoping it will be up from there.”

About 11 percent of registered voters have already cast their vote by mail, she said.

“We encourage the voters to turn out and take their sample ballots with them so they can mark their ballots easily and quickly,” she said.

She added that your polling place is printed on your sample ballot.

If you don't have your sample ballot and don't know where your poll is, look for a link to the registrar's office Web site at mydesert.com/elections. Click on “polling place,” then on your ZIP code and finally on your street. It's easy.

Don't have the Internet? Call the office at (951) 486-7200.

We urge Dunmore and her team to count quickly tonight so voters can get results to the readers as soon as possible. If the turnout turns out to be as meager as expected, this shouldn't be difficult.

And tomorrow, we hope to see candidates taking down their signs as soon as possible.

Campaign signs have been an issue this election season.

In Palm Springs, incumbent City Councilman Chris Mills has taken some heat for his signs, which are as big as allowed by the city's zoning code, 16 square feet. Some downtown business owners who disagree with his position on commercial signs have been critical.

But Mills is within the guidelines.

In Desert Hot Springs, the issue was whether it was proper for Councilman Russell Betts to have a mural painted to serve as a campaign sign. Betts broke no rules because the city doesn't have many rules on political signs, only that they can't be in the public right of way.

There also are no rules in Desert Hot Springs on when signs need to be taken down. In Palm Springs, the code says they need to come down within five days after the election.

Palm Springs City Clerk James Thompson said that if the city sees signs left up for too long, the candidate gets a courtesy notice.

“A lot of them don't remember where they put them all,” Thompson said.

If a candidate were to ignore the notice, he could get a citation with a fine of $100 per sign. But Thompson doesn't remember that ever happening here.

We urge all the candidates to take personal responsibility and take their signs down as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, we hope to see lots of you today sporting your “I have voted” stickers.

Check for results at mydesert.com/elections