This week's low voter turnout at most polling places is unlikely to be repeated in November.

Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan predicts turnout could be as high as 80 percent in November. Get ready for a BIG election:

A change is guaranteed in the White House. Hot races are under way for Missouri governor, U.S. Senate in Kansas, and some U.S. House seats in the area. Johnson Countians have another sales tax issue on the ballot, this time for the Education Research Triangle.

Missouri voters will have all statewide offices except auditor on November ballots. There will be four statewide issues to decide, including one to remove the $500 per-session loss limit at the casinos and restrict the number of casinos in the state.

All this could mean long lines and waits at the polls as people read the issues and make their choices.

Missouri lawmakers eliminated straight-ticket voting, an option chosen by 1 million voters in the last presidential election. Unlike Kansas, Missouri does not have advance voting.

Even with advance voting, however, lines could be long. Johnson County Election Commissioner Brian Newby expects it will take voters, on average, four minutes to cast a ballot in November.

That doesn't include the time spent waiting to vote. Kansans who want to avoid the wait can vote ahead of time in person or by mail.

Otherwise, voters should ideally arrive at the polls knowledgable about the issues and candidates.

Election officials have only a few months to prepare. Chief among the tasks: finding enough poll workers to handle the expected crowds.

Helping others to exercise their constitutional right is an important job in our democracy. Plus, it's a paid position. To sign up, contact your local election office. Or Missourians can go to Carnahan's Web site (www.sos.mo.gov) to register interest, and the information will be forwarded to local election officials.