If you have figured out how to buy the ingredients for tonight’s dinner, you have the tools you need to vote.

Casting a ballot is — like so many experiences in this pandemic era — something that requires extra preparation and patience. You will need a mask, and disposable ones are available at polling stations. You will need to sanitize your hands, and single-use pencils are used. You will need to pay attention to signage and the instructions of elections workers. The six-foot distance you need to keep between other voters is marked on lines on the floor.

It is very similar to the changes we have all become used to at the grocery store. Like buying food and supplies for your family, a trip out into the community to cast a ballot is an essential expedition. We assure you, it is worth the extra effort. If you have symptoms of illness, however, it is best to stay home and keep fellow citizens safe.

For those who have gone through the process of doing a mail-in ballot, and have headed out to advance polls, thank you. We also need to thank those frontline election workers who are facilitating this democratic process at a time when we have seen a spike in COVID-19 cases in our province. Even if there are lineups and some confusion about increased measures, these workers need to be treated with respect.

Besides your ID, a mask and extra patience, voters need to head to the ballot boxes armed with education that will allow them to make an informed choice. The Regina Leader-Post and Saskatoon StarPhoenix editorial teams have been working flat out since before the writ dropped to cover the issues that mean the most to voters. Full access to our coverage can be found at https://leaderpost.com/tag/2020-saskatchewan-election or https://thestarphoenix.com/tag/saskatchewan-election-2020.

Every vote counts. Polls may point to a Saskatchewan Party victory, but there are tight races — particularly in the cities — where seats are up for grabs. Nothing should be taken for granted.

Of course, this is just the first of two opportunities to participate in the democratic process. We need to push through as good citizens to the municipal elections on Nov. 9.

Another election hanging over our heads — although we can’t vote in it — is the U.S. race. The contrast between the presidential race and Saskatchewan’s current campaigns are worth pointing out. While we are not free from division, candidates and their supporters have managed to fight in a tough, yet respectful, manner.

Let’s finish off this election season strong, with a healthy voter turnout and minimal displays of frustration at the polls.