The fate of the free world is in your hands. OK, that may be a bit too melodramatic, but for once the primary election for president in Pennsylvania on Tuesday could actually mean something.

Yes, the vote appears to be much more important on the Democratic side of the ballots where Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are battling it out for the nomination. Admittedly, John McCain has the Republican nomination in the bag.

But for those GOP voters who are disenchanted by the George W. Bush reign, there’s always a vote for Ron Paul just to show the party leaders that you are looking for something different.

The interest on the Democratic side even inspired an inordinate amount of Republicans in Mercer County and throughout Pennsylvania to switch their votes just so they could help choose between the two senators.

The question is: Did they switch because they want a Democrat to reach the White House or did they change to vote for the candidate they think is less likely to defeat McCain in November. It’s a very interesting scenario. Many are predicting record turnout at the polls throughout the state. That in itself would be a great change from the past where apathy among voters ran rampant.

It’s important that every eligible voter turns out at the polls on Tuesday. With the unpopular Iraq war raging on, with gas prices climbing nearer to $4 a gallon and with the country in a recession, every vote is key.

While Obama is the leading candidate to get the party nomination, a big win by Clinton in Pennsylvania could sway some of the super delegates to go her way. If Pennsylvania joins several of the other big states that have given the nod to Clinton, it could swing other delegates who can switch their votes after the initial convention vote fails to produce a winner.

But while the presidential election always grabs the headlines, there are other candidates running for election in both parties.

There has been a surge of interest particularly among Democrats who hope to unseat long-time U.S. Rep. Phil English in November. Other than his stand against tolling of Route 80, English has done little to inspire backing from Mercer County residents.

The Democrats from northwest Pennsylvania — who haven’t run a viable candidate in years against English — are smelling blood in the water. Democrat voters may choose among Kathy Dahlkemper, a businesswoman; Kyle Foust, Erie County councilman; Mike Waltner, Erie-based minister; and Tom Myers, an attorney. Regardless of party affiliation, this is finally a time that Pennsylvanians can make a difference.