The votes are in. Incumbents are out.

That’s the way many primary elections went across the nation. And in our Progress Poll, our voters have spoken in favor of term limits for all elected offices.

Keep in mind, we did not set a certain limit for any office — one term, two terms ... 10 years, etc. But our voters made it clear that they want at least some form of mandatory term limits.

“They need to know going into (their first term) that this is just something they will do for a few year, then have to find another way to make a living. Otherwise, all they will do is spend their time finding ways to keep themselves in office,” one reader said.

Another reader felt that being an incumbent gives candidates too great of an advantage.

“Right now, a politician’s main job is to run for re-election,” the reader wrote. “He can use his office to do favors for people to gain favor at the ballot box. But is that really what is best for everyone?”

One reader’s opinion was more succinct: “Throw the bums out!”

We’re sure there’s a deeper meaning to that statement.

On the other side of the argument, only one voter felt led to comment.

“If you have across the board term limits, you will wind up with inexperienced politicians,” the voter wrote. “By the time somebody really learns how to do the job, it will be time for them to be replaced.”

Somehow, judging from the response to this week’s poll, many of our readers don’t feel that an “inexperienced politician” would not necessarily be a bad thing.