Early voting runs in Salt Lake County today till 5

Utahns (at least those who have not voted early) will go to the polls Tuesday in what is generally accepted to be a historic presidential election.

There is little doubt that a majority of Utah voters will cast their presidential ballot for Republican John McCain. But no matter who wins the nation's top job, the fact that Democratic nominee Barack Obama is a candidate of color, and that for the first time the GOP ticket includes a woman, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the 2008 election writes a new chapter in American history.

Below are the major candidates and issues Utahns will find on their ballots.

If you live in Salt Lake County, you even have one last chance to vote early: Today only at the county clerk's office at the County Complex, State Street and 2100 South (South Building), you can cast an early ballot from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.

For Tuesday balloting, you can find your polling place by calling your local county clerk, or you can go to the state's Election Office Web site at elections.utah.gov. Polls are open Tuesday from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.

The Deseret News will provide complete, but unofficial, results in its Wednesday edition and at: deseretnews.com.

• President: There are four presidential and vice presidential tickets on the ballot associated with duly-registered political parties — the Republicans, McCain/Palin, and the Democrats, Obama/Sen. Joe Biden, being the main contenders. There are three other candidates on the ballot not associated with a party, including Ralph Nader/Matt Gonzalez and Cynthia Mckinley/Rosa Clemente. Utah has not voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since Lyndon Johnson in 1964. The winner Tuesday gets Utah's five Electoral College votes — it takes 270 Electoral College votes to be elected president.

There is no U.S. Senate seat up in Utah this year.

• Governor: GOP Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. seeks a second (and he says his last) four-year term as governor. He runs again with Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert. The Democratic nominee is local consultant Bob Springmeyer, with his political partner Josie Valdez. Former computer store owner "Superdell" Dell Schanze is running for governor under the Libertarian Party banner.

Utah has not elected a Democrat for governor since the late Scott M. Matheson won his second term in 1980.

• U.S. House: Utah has three congressional seats. You only get to vote in the U.S. House district in which you live.