With midterm elections just a few weeks away, Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton and Vice President Joe Biden visited Minnesota last week to encourage voters to support Democrats Gov. Mark Dayton and Sen. Al Franken at the polls this November.

On Tuesday, Michelle Obama addressed a crowd of more than 2,000 people at Patrick Henry High School in Minneapolis, where she reminded her audience how important it is for young people and people of color to make their voices heard.

Later in the week, Biden toured Minnesota’s Iron Range. Targeting blue-collar workers, he argued that the Republican Party doesn’t represent the interests of the middle class.

As Biden toured northern Minnesota, Hillary Clinton spoke to students at Macalester College on Thursday. Later that evening, she spoke at a private fundraiser for Dayton. Clinton’s address emphasized Minnesota’s role in pioneering successful social and economic programs, praising the state as a model for the rest of the nation.

We understand how exciting it is to see some of the country’s most prominent political figures firsthand, and we hope everyone feels passionate about voting in the upcoming election. That said, we also hope that political issues — not celebrity endorsements — remain everyone’s focus as they head to the polls. Voters should thoroughly research candidates’ political opinions before casting a ballot.

All three speakers highlighted the importance of voter turnout. Ultimately, we share that feeling, but we think that voting knowledgeably is just as important.