TOMORROW is an historic day in County Durham. For the first time since 1889, people have the chance to vote for members for a new kind of county council.

Turnout may well be low, and not simply because of a modern disillusionment with politics and politicians.

For a start, the new unitary authority is not universally popular. There is a feeling that it has been imposed upon a reluctant population; there are concerns that it will be too distant from the people it serves.

Neither reason should stop people voting.

The first reason is now irrelevant because the council is going to exist whether people like it or not. The second reason will become a self-fulfilling prophecy because if people do not engage in the electoral process the council will be distant from them.

A third reason people give for not voting is that it has been a lacklustre campaign.

This is because many outgoing councillors are not having judgement passed on their record, and many candidates do not yet have real local connections because they are fighting in new or enlarged divisions.

A lacklustre campaign does not mean, though, that the council will lack impact on people's lives. It will. It will have a budget of £1bn to spend locally and it will employ 22,000 people. By voting, you will help direct its immense impact.

A fourth reason for not voting is that traditionally Labour has been so strong that its votes have been weighed, not counted, making all other shades of opinion meaningless.

As the Liberal Democrats have shown in Durham City, this is no longer the case.

Yesterday, The Northern Echo was receiving indications that polling showed the council to be heading towards no overall control. Therefore, probably for the first time since 1889, every vote will count equally and will have the potential to tip the balance.

Finally, a fifth reason to go out and vote.

A low turnout will benefit the small, but vocal, band of extremists fighting this election.

We believe their policies do not offer hope for the future of the county and that people have a responsibility to keep them out.