Voters in Georgia have an opportunity Tuesday to participate in primary elections that will be a first step toward sweeping change in the upper echelons of state government.

Unfortunately, many will decide they can’t be bothered.

The election of a governor is not particularly a unique event in Georgia, happening as it does every four years. But the opportunity to elect new people to virtually every top elected office in the state at one time is one unlikely to be repeated soon.

Among the state’s top office holders, only one has an elected incumbent seeking re-election, that of Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, who faces no Republican opposition in the primary but will have a Democratic challenger in November’s general election.

All of the other top positions are either without an incumbent at all, or have an incumbent who was only recently appointed to fill the position pending election.

During this election cycle, there will be a massive, unprecedented change in the state government power structure.

Voters this week have an opportunity to dictate the direction that change will take. If only they will.

At the local level, voters for the first time will be electing county commissioners and school board members by districts rather than countywide, an historic change in local government.

Given the sweeping changes that will take place during this election cycle, it is more important than ever for voters to take the time to find out about the candidates and to make educated decisions at the polls. An uninformed voter is potentially more dangerous that one who chooses not to vote.

Remember, too, that those who don’t vote delegate their decision making opportunity to those who do.

Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday. Between now and then, find time to determine which candidates in all the races best define your concept of what government should be, then go to the polls and vote.