This is the day that we as Americans individually vote and collectively determine the future of our nation. We vote to take control of what matters most to us: our education and health care, the economy, our children, our parents and our environment. We vote for one another. The more of our friends and neighbors who participate, the more our democracy will actually reflect the community we live in.

This year I connected with as many of my friends, family and neighbors as possible before Election Day. I urged friends and family to vote early to avoid long lines and possibly bad weather.

I am urging League members to invite others to accompany them to the ballot box. League members will be calling friends to see when they’re planning on voting and who needs a ride to the polls. Our League is posting information on our website ( lwvodc.org) and our Facebook page with links to other sites. Let’s share our enthusiasm for seeing democracy at work through exercising our right to vote, especially in a year like this when there is so much at stake. Together, our votes determine who will be elected and what happens to our families and our communities.

The League of Women Voters urges you to consider the positions of candidates on local and state issues that impact our lives and our communities directly. Will we elect local and state officials who commit to protecting voters’ rights while ensuring the integrity of the election process? Will they ensure a strong public school system and well-funded early childhood programs? Will our officials pursue economic development while protecting our environment? Will their policies strengthen our mental health system and support quality health care available for all? Will affordable housing be a priority? Will they commit to protecting women’s reproductive rights? We urge voters to consider the positions of candidates on these issues as well as those important to them.

On the national level, polls are showing that the presidential race is exceptionally close, that every vote will make a difference and that together Americans’ voices will count. This is the time for all of us to weigh in and stand up for the issues that matter most to us as voters.

The outcome of this election will make an incredible difference in everyone’s lives. Through VOTE411.org, voters can learn about candidates and where they stand on the issues and find answers to any remaining questions about how to navigate Election Day. I hope that every registered voter in Durham, Orange and Chatham Counties will make sure you and your friends and family are ready to cast their votes by election day, Nov. 6.

This November, we will connect as a nation to elect our policymakers and shape our future. It is a critical moment for our country, and I look forward to sharing it not only with those closest to me, but also with the rest of my fellow Americans. I hope that you will too.