If you, like me, are astonished and depressed that anyone could possibly be an “undecided voter” in the presidential race, you might like to consider something that occurred to me this afternoon.

I consider myself pretty politically savvy. I follow the news, and I’m aware how important local races are. And yet I couldn’t name a single person running for mayor or city council in my town (even though lawn signs are already up and I’ve actually spoken to two mayoral candidates). If you polled me on the local races right now, I’d have to say I’m undecided.

But when I vote (and I will vote, and I will vote early), I will do my research. We have an official Voter’s Pamphlet where the candidates and their supporters can make their cases, and I have access to people and publications whose opinions I trust. I will gather enough information to make an informed decision.

So I am sure that there are people who care about presidential politics as much as I care about local politics, but like me they have not yet paid attention to the news or done the necessary research. It’s a matter of priorities, and I can’t really fault anyone who is too overwhelmed by the day-to-day matter of exiting in this messed-up country to spare any attention to national politics. But many of them will do their due diligence and make a considered choice before casting their ballots.

And I do hold out hope that when they do, the rational and kind choice will be clear.