I know I have.

Election 2006, the fall version, has been the most aggressive, mean-spirited and all-pervasive campaign I've seen since I covered the political wars in northeastern Ohio several years ago.

In some ways, I feel right at home. In others, I am totally disgusted by the barrage of negative advertising that has surrounded me for several weeks -- whether it is the hotly-contested U.S. Senate race, Amendment 2, the minimum wage proposal or our local judge's race.

Every year, politicians pledge to be above board and discuss the issues.

And, sadly, every year they go negative.

I've read polls over the years that show the American public doesn't appreciate negative political advertising. And yet, and most definitely in connection with the U.S. Senate race in Missouri, the negative ads come, and come and come.

Why the negative ads in Missouri? Since this is my first experience of a Missouri fall election since moving here about a year ago, I really don't know.

I'm told by long-time residents of Marshall that this is the worst they have seen it.

I think I know why the massive amount of negative advertising has descended on Missouri this fall. The stakes are huge.

As I opened my home-delivered edition of The New York Times this past week, up in the top left-hand corner was a story about the mid-term elections. The dateline? A town in Missouri.

There are just a few U.S. Senate seats in play on Tuesday, Nov. 7, and Missouri's is one of them. The stakes? Democratic Party control of the U.S. Senate that could be paired with Democratic Party control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

In political circles, that's huge.

The Democrats have now been out of power for several years and they sense in this mid-term election a chance to get back into power.

That's where you, the reader, come into play in this larger political arena.

Please exercise your right to vote on Tuesday.

I know that you, like me, are pretty disgusted with the barrage of negative advertising in this election season and the first reaction is to throw up your hands and not participate.

However, as bad as it gets, and it has been particularly uncivil these past few weeks, it is important for us as individuals and as a nation, to participate in the voting process.

Democracy, despite its excesses -- and there are many -- is still the best way to exercise choice over government.

When you go to the polls on Tuesday your one vote will have an impact on everything from who controls the U.S, Senate to whether or not a countywide 9-1-1 system is established.

You will decide an important issue on stem cell research, the minimum wage in Missouri and other issues.

It's your turn, now.

Please vote on Tuesday.

Mason is the editor of The Marshall Democrat-News. Spectrum appears on Friday.