Election Day 2012 is finally here and long may be the word of the day. It’s been a long campaign, it’s a long ballot, and at times, there could be long lines at the polls which opened 7 a.m. and at closing time at 8 p.m. and in between.

Besides the important Presidential, U.S. Senate and Congressional and State House contests and a half dozen state ballot proposals, there are local school board races in Branch County and school millage questions, the county-wide sheriff’s department road patrol millage, county board contests, township races and a decision to make on a new county probate judge.

Did you know there are three ways to vote? There is straight party, split ticket and a hybrid of the two called a mixed ticket. If a voter wants to vote for straight party republican, but still wants to blacken in the dot next to a democrat, they will all count.