As we approach election day — Tuesday, Nov. 2 — we urge all of you to vote. You owe it to your country and to the people who are risking their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq. Most importantly, you owe it to yourself.

Since the last presidential race was decided by so few votes, the evidence is in — every vote counts. Make sure your voice and the voices of your fellow students are heard this time around.

This year, the presidential candidates differ fundamentally on major issues as diverse as job creation, health care, the budget deficit, energy and environmental policy, foreign affairs and terrorism. The candidate who wins will take our country in very different directions than his opponent would have. Therefore, many of us are convinced that this is the most important election of our lifetimes.

So, what can you do?

First, register to vote — and do so as soon as possible. In most states, you must be registered 30 days before the Nov. 4 election, so time is running out. Most states now provide voter registration forms at their Election Board Web site. In the Commonwealth of Virginia, for instance, you can access a voter registration form at www.sbe.state.va.us/VotRegServ/Forms/VirginiaVoterRegistrationApplication.PDF.

Second, learn the difference between the candidates’ positions; each candidate has set forth his views on his respective Web site. On top of that, the three presidential debates are likely to provide valuable insights into the two men’s ideas. Many other sources of information are available on the Internet, in the media and in scores of recent books.

Third, vote, either by absentee ballot or in person. As for absentee voting, states generally allow full-time students to vote by mail before the election. Most counties provide absentee ballots on their Web sites. You can access your county’s Web site through the National Association of Counties Web site — http://www.naco.org/ — under the "about counties" menu. If the county does not have a Web site, the county profile will contain a telephone number for the county election board’s office that you can contact. If you vote by mail, however, you carefully must observe the deadlines for requesting your ballot and mailing it back. Generally, you should request your ballot a month before election day and return it five days in advance. Many communities allow you to vote absentee "in person" in specified places before the election. Under these procedures, you merely walk in and vote. Locations and times generally are listed at the county Web site, or you can find them by calling the county election board.

Whichever candidate you prefer, don’t miss the opportunity to exercise your most important right and obligation as a citizen.

Debra Jacobson is a law professor at the George Washington University.
Jonathan Miles is an integrated science and technology professor at James Madison University.