Summer may not be over yet, but there’s already homework to do.

Voters have narrowed the field of candidates in some races in this week’s primary election and the filing period for other offices has closed.

Voters have just a little over two months until the general election to do their homework so they truly know who will best represent their interests.

Sure, candidates will present their views in advertisements and news reports, but we urge voters to go beyond the basics. Today’s easy access to candidates and their campaigns via the internet means information about the candidates and their  backgrounds is just a keystroke away. Campaign websites can help provide information about what the candidate believe are the important issues.

But voters, too, must decide for themselves what issues are most important to them. Voters should think about questions they have and the information they want from the candidates to help them decide who would best represent them and their views.

In the weeks to come, we will provide information and views on what readers can expect to see on the November ballot and we will pose questions to candidates in an effort to help provide information on specific issues relating to Borderland and northern Minnesota. We will also lay out the rules of fair play on our Opinion Page to help guide readers about what we will publish in the days leading up to the election.

We hope that our opinion page offerings from readers help to open people’s minds to consider new views and impressions of the issues and the candidates who want to represent us.

The website of the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State has a variety of information about how to vote, what and who will be on the November ballot as well as the results of the primary election.

In addition, each of the three major parties have websites and contacts that provide information on candidates as well as perspectives on other issues, including the two constitutional amendments that will be on the ballot.

The work may have begun many months ago for candidates, but the work of an informed voter is never done.