Here it is, folks -- Election Day! After months of candidate forums, campaign commercials, mud-slinging, posturing and promises, it's time to exercise the greatest power afforded you by the government of these United States of America: scribbling ball-point ink inside tiny rectangular boxes. (Here's how not to do it.) Smells like freedom.

Candidates and their supporters are out and about, trying to sway last-minute fence sitters and motivate hung-over Giants fans. Above, District Attorney candidate Allison Jackson executes the little-used "low five" with a celebratory supporter in front of the county courthouse. Her campaign has evidently succeeded at least in making her recognizable: When she showed up at her polling place this morning, she said, a poll worker told her, "You don't need your ID." Asked how she was feeling Jackson replied, "Feeling great. The Giants won! It's a wonderful year."

Just a dozen yards up Fifth Street, Democratic party volunteer Anthony Barondess of Eureka was representin' large for the leftward plank of politicos, including incumbent Fourth District County Supervisor Bonnie Neely, incumbent DA Paul Gallegos, incumbent City Councilman Larry Glass and Peter LaVallee, the once and would-be future mayor of Eureka.

A few blocks west, the Salas family -- Dave, Sheila and an unidentified youngun -- were strolling through town bedecked in Jackson's palette of purple and green.

"She's for the people -- especially children," Sheila Salas said. 

Keep checking back here throughout the afternoon and evening. We'll be live-blogging the results as they come in, and our reporters will be scattered throughout the region, pointing our cameras at the pensive faces of our assorted candidates and chronicling their respective victories and defeats.