As the state’s primary election nears, it seems like everyone is trying to tell you what to do — who to back for what offices, what ballot measures to support or oppose — as though your vote is theirs to cast.

We’re not going to do that.

The Spokesman is taking a neutral stance in hopes that the only counsel you heed when filling in those ovals between now and May 21 is your own.

Frankly, there already are so many opinions churning out there over state and local issues that throwing one more into the grinder isn’t likely to make that much of a difference.

In particular, the debate over the Redmond city charter and the four-way race for Deschutes County Commissioner seems to have drawn the most local discussion. So too has the Democratic primary to face off with incumbent Lori Chavez-DeRemer in CD5. Most of our local state representative and state senate races will not get serious until November.

You all know this. We take it you’ve seen the lawn signs.

The most important advice we can give you is that you never have more power than in the primary, when a much-smaller percentage of the electorate fills out a ballot. If you’re one of the few and the brave to vote this May, you will have an outsized influence on the election.

This early in the voting for a primary election, it’s not unusual to see that a low percentage of people have returned their ballots. As of May 8, out of 161,885 eligible voters in Deschutes County, only 8,419 ballots had been returned.

That’s just a shade over 5%.

Most people wait and vote closer to the deadline.

But Oregon should get the benefit of the input and judgment of all its eligible voters. Vote by mail makes it relatively easy. Take the time to examine the candidates and the ballot measures and make your choices.

Remember, those with a stake in the results want your votes. Make them earn it. Use your power.