It’s National Voter Registration Day.

If you’re not registered, it’s time you got involved in our democracy. The First Amendment protects everyone’s right to complain about our government, but your complaints will have a hollow ring if you’re not engaged in trying to make things better; you can start by registering and voting.

Registration generally is simple. In 47 states, you can register by mail. In 35 states and Washington, D.C., you can register online. In every state, you can register at the state office where you apply for or renew your driver’s license. You can get detailed information about registration requirements, options and deadlines in your state here, along with information about early voting, identification requirements and polling place locations.

Please pay special attention if you live in New Jersey or Virginia. Those are the only states with statewide elections this year; voters in both will be choosing a new governor and lieutenant governor. New Jersey voters also will elect members of the State Senate and the General Assembly; in Virginia, voters also will elect an attorney general and members of the House of Delegates.

The registration deadline in Virginia is Oct. 16; New Jersey residents have until Oct. 17 to sign up.

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