FEWER than one in seven of us knows who our county councillor is.
Surrey County Council has an annual budget of £1.5 billion and counts all our schools, roads, and social care among its many responsibilities.
Yet only 13 per cent of people polled by the Mirror had any idea which one of the county's 80 politicians represented them.
Every county council division is up for election on May 2 for the first time since 2009.
Only 57 per cent of people we spoke to said they would be voting – a figure lower than the national turnout at the 2010 general election, but much higher than the county elections turnout last time round, which was just 39 per cent in Reigate and Banstead and 44 per cent in Tandridge.
Christopher Whinney, a borough councillor for Reigate who stood in the county election last time around, said: "It is always important that people vote. If they feel disinclined to vote, that is a reflection on the system.
"I know people who say you must vote. That is great in principle, but if people don't know what a candidate is representing, or they feel disenfranchised, they say they can't vote.
"A 39 per cent turnout [at the last election] wasn't bad. But I'm not saying it couldn't be better. It will be interesting to see what the percentages are this time around."
With polling cards arriving through letterboxes, it is perhaps not surprising that three-quarters of the 110 people we polled on the streets knew there was an election coming.
But very few knew the vote will be to elect their county councillor, with some confused between the tiers of government – national, county and borough or district.
At 18, William Dyer is likely to be the youngest candidate standing for election, for the Reigate division.
"There is definitely a concern that not enough young people are voting," he said. "To engage with the political process isn't something people should shy away from.
"A lot of my mates know I am political and they often come to me and shout about their problems.
"If they engage with the political process, they can get a little way towards changing things."
He added: "I am not at all surprised only 13 per cent of people know who their councillor is. The county council is really important, it does so many things."
County division boundaries will change at this election, and the number of councillors representing the Reigate and Banstead area will rise from nine to ten.
Residents may find the councillor who currently represents them is not standing in their area this time.
The candidates were confirmed this week. Conservative and UKIP hopefuls are standing in every Tandridge and Reigate and Banstead division. Labour are standing in all but two.
There are seven Green Party candidates in Reigate and Banstead, and one in Tandridge.
The list is notable for the disappearance of the British National Party. In 2009, candidates for the far right party stood in six of the nine Reigate and Banstead divisions but this time they have no representation in East Surrey.
Additional reporting by Chris Madden, Bruce Archer and Thomas Coffey
Hear from the leaders of the main parties here: