There's not the bombardment of TV and radio advertisements or home invasion of pre-recorded phone messages and political mailers.

But it's an election just the same — democracy in action.

Local elections — of which there are a slew today in the Hall County area — form the grass-roots base of American politics, the launching pad for many a high-profile state or federal lawmaker.

Just don't expect the line at the ballot box to be streaming onto the street.

"The election that gets the most excitement and interest is the presidential (one)," said Charles Bullock, a political science professor at the University of Georgia in Athens. "And therefore, it's not surprising that's the contest that gets most people out to vote.

"Our mid-term elections, where we elect governor and the rest of our state constitutional officers, don't do nearly as well turning voters out."

Elections that involve local races typically draw even less of a crowd, Bullock said.

"There is usually not TV advertising, unless you're in a big city like Atlanta. There may not be the kind of mail-outs. ... There's less information floating around. There's less to capture people's attention, to get their interest, to convince them that their vote may really count."

And a smaller turnout might be regrettable, especially as some issues hit voters no closer to home than on the local level. Issues at stake might vary from a sewer plant expansion to lower property tax bills.

Bullock noted it might be easier for voters to connect to candidates and certain issues "than they can at a higher-level contest where the discussion is on topics where many people don't have a very good grasp."

There are exceptions to the rule, of course. Some towns are political hotbeds "where everybody knows the candidates," Bullock said.

"If you have a really hot contest and lots of attention given to it within the community and there's been a lot of the supporters or candidates going door to door, that can drive up turnout," he said.

"One of the things we know is that voters who are asked to vote, asked to turn out, are more likely to do so."

Bullock said his hometown, 1,049-resident High Shoals in Oconee County, "is covered up with handmade signs."

In Hall County, contested races are set in Gainesville, Clermont, Flowery Branch and Lula.

Flowery Branch has six candidates running for three seats, which are being vacated by three incumbents who frequently served as the majority in the council's many 3-2 votes.

Adding an unusual twist to the election is the candidacy of Otto Mutzberg, who sent an e-mail last month to City Hall announcing his withdrawal but never filing the official papers to do so. Despite numerous attempts, he could not be reached for comment.

The city held a well-attended candidates forum and political signs are appearing in the city.

But it is hard to say whether the election will draw a large turnout, said City Clerk Melissa McCain, who has worked through two previous elections.

Previous experience shows that "morning, lunch and 5 o'clock are the busiest times," she said. "It stays pretty steady."

McCain said the city does allow older voters to get first in line between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., "so we suggest they wait until then."

Charlotte Sosebee-Hunter, Hall's interim elections superintendent, said low turnouts aren't confined to just municipal elections.

"It's also the same effect when there's a runoff or a special election," she said.

Regardless, there are people who go to the voting booth every chance they get.

They are "faithful voters who are concerned about their voting record," Sosebee-Hunter said. "They just take it to heart, I believe. .... I think you're either a voter or one of those who just sporadically shows up and votes.

She added, philosophically, "But all voices are heard, even in small elections."