Today is New Hampshire’s every-four-years turn in the national spotlight – the day of its presidential primary.

If you haven’t voted yet today, get on your coat and go vote – now! Vote to support democracy and democratic principles. If you are Democrat or Independent, write in Joe Biden. If you are registered Republican, vote to show the nation you care.

This year’s primary on the Democratic side is unlike any other. The Democratic National Committee tried to place New Hampshire behind South Carolina and on the same day as Michigan. State law calls for the Granite State to hold the first-in-the-nation primary, so state Democrats forged ahead at the risk of sanctions from the DNC that include loss of delegates.

The result has been a primary in which President Joe Biden isn’t running, but his supporters are encouraging people to write in his name.

Things have been a little more straightforward on the Republican side, where New Hampshire remains the first official primary. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ withdrawal from the race over the weekend has left only two main candidates on the GOP side – former President Donald Trump and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.

Despite national Democrats trying to take away New Hampshire’s status and the extreme winnowing of the field among the Republicans, it’s still important to get out and vote today.

For Democrats, it’s a chance to prove to the national party that the primary still matters, that people still care enough to go out on a Tuesday in January and make their choices, even if the primary is not sanctioned. 

For Republicans, today’s vote can go a long way in determining the rest of the run for the nomination. If Trump wins by a large margin, in all likelihood, the race is over. If Haley can win, or even keep it close, it gives her campaign reason to keep going, especially since her home state of South Carolina is next on the docket.

But the best reason to vote is because that’s what people do in a democracy, and no one does it like New Hampshire does for its presidential primary. No matter the circumstance, Democrats, Republicans and independents alike cast their ballots. It’s a point of pride, and one that should continue.