Today's the day. Time for the biennial go-to-the-polls pep talk. Ordinarily, steering someone away from the shopping mall or soccer field and toward the polling station takes a really hard push.

But come on. This is not really one of those times, is it?

Most longtime residents would be hard-pressed to remember an election day when there's been as much excitement over two state races. A U.S. Senate seat is the prize in a heated contest between the incumbent and a current congressman, whose decision to run opened the floodgates for a full raft of candidates seeking to replace him in the U.S. House. No shortage of choices there.

And there are more choices in the gubernatorial primaries and, in select districts, other interesting races for state or county offices. In some cases, such as the Kaua'i mayoral race and the state Senate seat in District 4, the outcome could be decided in the primary.

Sure, there's other stuff folks can accomplish in the hour or so it'll take to cast a ballot. Weed a patch of the garden. Watch a TV rerun.

But today, voting should be on that to-do list. Remember, the folks you elect today will help shape Hawai'i's future.

So, go to the polls. The weeds will still be there next Saturday.