When presidential elections roll around, there is always much discussion about voter turnout. But the same discussion of turnout in local elections seemingly never develops.

Consider these facts. In the 2016 presidential election, the turnout was 55.3 percent. The turnout in presidential elections has hovered within two percentage points of 55 percent in all presidential elections since 1968.

It's on the local level where voting has really dropped. When Harold Washington was elected mayor of Chicago in 1983, there were 1,169,723 votes cast. When Rahm Emanuel won re-election in 2015, there were 478,204 votes cast.

When Kankakee County residents go to the polls April 4, they will find races where there are no candidates listed. According to the voter information guide provided by the Kankakee County Clerk's Office, there are at least 29 elective offices throughout the county where no candidate has filed. Grant Park has one candidate for three trustee spots. Momence has no one running for either village clerk or treasurer. The Bourbonnais School Board has three candidates running for four spots.

Some of these vacancies likely will be filled by a person who gets a handful of write-in votes.

There also are many races where voters have one name, but no choice. In Kankakee, six of the seven races for alderman feature an unopposed candidate. Mayors in Manteno, St. Anne, Herscher and Chebanse, among others, are unopposed.

It might be that local government is unappreciated. Yet, a myriad of decisions are made at the local level.

Democracy works better when voters have a choice. Consider voting. Better yet, consider serving.