Are your prepared for what will happen as a result of the Nov. 3 election? To hear some political insiders tell it, polling data shows the outcome of the election is already a foregone conclusion.

Here’s what they say:

Tucson City Council

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Mostly more of the same. The best chance for change is Steve Kozachik’s bid in Ward 6 to unseat Nina Trasoff. It might even be a toss-up. In Ward 3, challenger Ben Buehler-Garcia is about a four-point underdog to incumbent Karin Uhlich. And in Ward 5, Richard Fimbres’ is virtually “undefeatable” to take over the seat being vacated by Steve Leal. Shaun McClusky doesn’t stand a chance.

Proposition 200

The Public Safety First Initiative setting standards for the number of police officers and emergency response times in the city of Tucson could turn out to be a squeaker. Initially, support was strong but sentiment is changing.

Proposition 400s

There are 15 propositions numbered in the 400s this year in Pima County and they all have to do with budgets, though which you get to vote on depends on where you live. Proposition 400 is for the city of Tucson and the rest are being put forth by school districts.

Proposition 400 is described as technical and allows city officials to spend money from accounts it wouldn’t otherwise be permitted to do.

Proposition 401 in Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) is the most controversial. It’s yet another attempt to introduce a maintenance and operations budget override. We’ve already noted its vagueness.

All of the rest of the propositions — 402 in TUSD, 403 and 404 in Amphitheater, 405 and 406 in Tanque Verde, 407 in Catalina Foothills, 408 and 409 in Vail, 410, 411 and 412 in Sahuarita and 413 and 414 in Indian Oasis-Baboquivari — fall into one of three categories: renew an existing operations budget override, institute a capital budget override, or seek to sell bonds for specific projects.

Bottom line

If you’re happy with the way things are at Tucson City Hall or willing to let others decide how they will be changed then don’t bother to vote. But know you could have made a difference in a close election between Kozachik or Trasaoff. You could have helped Buehler-Garcia narrow his gap or helped give Uhlich an even bigger victory. You could have helped McClusky defy the odds or given Fimbres the politician’s ultimate; a “mandate.”

You could have swayed the outcome of a definitive statement on public safety and how Tucson budgets money.

You could have been there for your local schools when they needed money. Or, in the case of TUSD, sent a message to administrators they still don’t have it right.

The deadline for requesting an early ballot has already passed — it was Friday (Oct. 23). If you’ve already received one, make sure you fill it out and mail it in this week. Early voting in person is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday (Oct. 30) at the Pima County Recorder’s offices at 115 N. Church Ave. and 6920 E. Broadway, Suite D. Emergency voting will be available at the downtown office Nov. 2. And if all else fails, there’s the old-fashioned way: polls will be open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 3.

Regardless of what “they” say, you can make a difference.