Yes, it's Valentine's Day. So if you are a procrastinator and plan to give a card or gift to someone special, you should probably get going on that.

It is also election day in much of the Mid-Columbia. If you still have a ballot sitting on your kitchen counter or dashboard, you should get going on that too.

In theory, Cupid could come a day late. Your county auditor, however, cannot accept ballots that don't arrive in time.

Tomorrow is too late.

Mark yours and mail it or take it to one of your county auditor's drop boxes today.

We've already spelled out why we think it's crucial that voters approve all of the Mid-Columbia's local school levies, which typically provide about a fifth of the money needed to maintain operations.

The abbreviated version of our view is that the state does not fund education in the way it should. The State Supreme Court even says so.

The schools are forced to come to the voters every few years and ask for the difference between what they state pays and what it costs to run the schools.

The districts are also forced to give an accounting every couple of years on what they've been doing with your money. We talked to school officials and in each case approved of their efforts.

It's important to note that these aren't new taxes but renewal of expiring levies.

Good schools are vital to a community. They give kids an education and keep them engaged. They protect your home and its resale value.

There are thousands of reasons why you should vote yes on your schools' levy -- from kindergarten all the way through high school.

To those who have voted, thank you. To those who are still holding their ballots: vote. Today.