On Tuesday, voters in St. Joseph County and one other northern Indiana county head to the polls. It is a one issue election, but many people don't know it is happening or what they are voting on.

Jack Pitcher of Osceola has a Good Question: “Why hasn't WSBT had news on the special election?”

We've have had several stories, and here's one more. We will explain why this election is happening, and why many argue it shouldn't.

The South Shore train is the main reason Tuesday's election is happening, but not necessarily because of the existing trains and tracks.

“This whole idea of a Regional Transportation Authority district with taxing authority was sort of created by a couple of legislators from Lake County that were interested in finding funding for an expansion of the South Shore,” said Rep. Ryan Dvorak (D).

That district would include four northern Indiana counties: Porter, Lake, LaPorte and St. Joseph. But LaPorte and Lake are refusing to hold the election, saying it's too costly.

Dvorak says the idea of expansion would be to connect the South Shore to Valparaiso. Dvorak argues supporters didn't want the plan put before voters over fear it could lead to more taxpayer dollars, so the Republican-controlled State Senate likely killed the plan by forcing the vote.

“What the Senate decided to do, is allow for this idea to go into the budget bill, but require that it be presented as a referendum question for the voters. I'm pretty sure that was done with the intention of killing it all together.

In St. Joseph County there has been a very public crusade against voting for a Transportation Authority. At a recent county commissioner meeting, all three commissioners ― that includes from both political parties ― spoke out against it.

“I would urge the voters of St. Joseph County to vote no,” said county commissioner Bob Kovach (D)

But if so many in political leadership are against the election being held, why is it being held? Porter and Lake are refusing. Why isn't St. Joseph County doing the same?

“I know there's some fear,” said county commissioner Andrew Kostielney (R). “It is a state law. If we don't do it, the state may sue us. But the fact is no one has come out from the state in favor of holding this election in the first place, so I'm not too concerned about what they might do.”

St. Joseph County is scaling back drastically on the election to cut costs. Some fear it could still be $40,000 in taxpayer dollars. But clerk Rita Glenn is hoping to come in $25,000 to $30,000 below that.

So to figure out where you vote, click here, call Voter Registration at 235-9521, or go to your "normal" polling spot and if it's not a voting place, there should be a sign up telling you where to vote.