Butler County political observers don’t expect a huge voter turnout in today’s “off-year” primary election.

But this is one off-year primary that Republican and Democratic voters should regard as anything but ho-hum — and, as such, worthy of a strong, or even record, turnout.

Of key importance are the county commissioner contests, where six Republicans are vying for that party’s two nominations and three Democrats are seeking that party’s nod for the other two.

The top three vote-getters in the Nov. 8 general election will guide the county government for the next four years.

Despite the importance of these countywide contests, perhaps generating even more inerest will be school board races.

That’s because of taxpayers’ increasing frustration over higher taxes and for school boards’ caving in to generous contract demands by teachers unions.

Probably more so than in any other primary election campaign in decades, this primary has the potential to nominate many new faces to compete in the November election.

However, that might depend on solid, rather than weak, turnouts in the two parties.

Beyond the commissioners and school board races, voters should keep in mind the importance of borough and township offices. Like the commissioner and city positions, borough and township offices are those closest to the voters.

The people who fill those positions are the ones who make decisions most directly affecting the daily lives of the residents of their communities.

Many voters fail to acknowledge the danger of not voting: After Election Day, they run the risk of finding out that they were partly responsible for the “wrong” candidate being elected.

“Off-year” elections receive that negative designation because they consist of few, if any, state or federal contests — and this year is no exception. There are no federal nominations to be decided and, statewide, the focus will be only on one Superior Court and one Commonwealth Court seat.

Back in Butler County, voters in some municipalities will be selecting nominees for district judge seats — important positions on the local criminal justice front.

Despite the predictions for a low turnout, today’s balloting has had plenty of visibility by way of the various campaign signs dotting the roadsides. Unfortunately, many voters going to the polls today will know little or nothing about the candidates whom they will support, casting their votes too often on the basis of name recognition based on signs.

But until the polls close this evening, it will not be too late for voters to compare notes about the candidates before casting their ballots.

“There doesn’t seem to be a lot of interest,” said Shari Brewer, director of the county Bureau of Elections, in response to a question about today’s turnout.

With all that’s at stake — especially the tough fiscal issues on every governmental and school front — it’s to be hoped that she’s proven wrong.

Primary Election 2011 merits a record turnout, not another lackluster one.