The sign hanging in front of All Souls Church in downtown Greenfield reads: “Use your vote or lose your voice.”

Given the state’s presidential primary is Tuesday, March 3 and early voting was allowed this week, the message from Unitarian Universalist Service Committee is a fitting reminder. Don’t sit out this election — the first of three important ones this year — and let others choose for you.

The state tried to make it a bit more convenient by requiring cities and towns to offer early voting this week.

Registered Democrats who show up at the polls will receive a ballot containing 15 candidates, many of whom have dropped out of the race although their names remain on the ballot.

Republicans will find four candidates on their ballot, including the current president and a former Massachusetts governor. Those in the Green Party also have four and the Libertarian Party, ten. Voters who are unenrolled, so-called independents, can choose whichever ballot they want.

For those hesitant to make the effort, we say there must be a candidate among them worth choosing.

Without a doubt, many people are focused on what’s happening with the Democrats. Will they be able to unite behind a candidate who can seriously challenge President Donald Trump, who undoubtedly will get the backing of the Republican Party, and even reclaim the Senate?

As an aside, after the most recent televised debate, we question who could accomplish that. We do place some of the blame for the debate’s chaos on the chosen format and the apparent lack of control by the moderators. We doubt many viewers were impressed by the candidates’ performances that night.

Even so, that’s not enough reason to skip voting. Too much is at stake.

Besides Massachusetts, 13 other states will be voting on Super Tuesday, including the important addition of California.

For Republican voters, here is an opportunity to show your support for Trump — or not.

Then, there are the Democrats, who don’t have as yet a clear front-runner.

Here’s the rundown for that party. The total number of delegates is 3,979. Prior to Super Tuesday, 5 percent were up for grabs. On March 3, the number is 34 percent.

While no one can win the Democratic nomination Tuesday, it would be a boost to those candidates who secure a significant number of delegates. For those who don’t, that failure will likely bring an end to their run for office.

This is not a time to be cynical or apathetic about voting. Disappointed your candidate is no longer in the running? Find another to back. Passionate about one of the candidates? Then vote and encourage others.

The right to vote is especially important in that this is the 100th anniversary when women could legally vote in a national election. That was the result of a hard-fought battle by activists.

The Recorder will be running pre-election coverage in the weekend and Monday’s editions.

We will report online Tuesday night and in Wednesday’s paper edition how the candidates did in Franklin County and North Quabbin area along with statewide and national results.

Thursday, we will offer a detailed look at how the votes stacked up in each of our communities.

We hope yours will be among them.