The election season seems to have returned at a rapid pace during the past two weeks as we gear up for a Nov. 3 general election. It has arrived sooner than we might have thought because of the vote-by-mail system now in place in Washington and an increasing number of states. The election officially begins in Kitsap County on Oct. 14, when ballots and a print-version of the voter’s pamphlet will be mailed to residents.

On Bainbridge, it will be an important ballot. We will be making decisions on two candidates running for each of the three City Council positions; three candidates for park district board Position No. 4 and an uncontested seat for Position No. 2; two uncontested seats for both the school district and fire department; and an uncontested position on the Sewer District No. 7 commission. There also will be important bond measures on the ballot for the school district and fire district, both of which will require 60 percent voter approval.

And if you didn’t already know, island voters will not be restricted to casting ballots only for the candidate that represents their ward, as was the case in the primary. In the general election, voters city-wide will be asked to elect the next council representative for the south, central and north wards. So, make sure you learn all you can about all six candidates.

That shouldn’t be too difficult considering a plethora of events and outreach by the council candidates as we near the election. For example, forums will be held on Sept. 28 at Bainbridge High School and on Oct. 6 at the American Legion Hall on Bucklin Hill Road. And the Chamber of Commerce will offer discussion by the council candidates and levy supporters during a luncheon scheduled for Oct. 14.

By the way, the Review and its advisory board held endorsement discussions this week with the council candidates, all of whom agreed to face a video camera to deliver five-minute addresses involving specific issues they’re interested in or their campaigns in general. The videos are now available on our website, BainbridgeReview.com.

It should be an interesting election, so don’t forget to vote.