Two years ago, the party trying to take over Congress and the White House campaigned on "Hope" and "Change."

Today, the party it displaced likes to say "Congress, You’re Fired."

All the debate and contention will be over (at least temporarily) on Nov. 3. Until then, the people who want to change the changers, and the people who are just fine with the present political setup can only hope for a satisfactory result.

Hope, and vote.

The United States, where free and fair elections mark the celebration of democracy, has shockingly low participation among persons 18 and older qualified to vote. A dismaying percentage of those registered to cast ballots actually do so; and millions more have never signed up.

For Gloucester and Mathews voters, this coming election features a Republican incumbent Congressman facing challengers from the Democratic and Independent Green parties. Can you name them? (Rob Wittman, Krystal Ball and G. Gail "for Rail" Parker.) This midterm election lacks the excitement of a presidential year or balloting for local offices. Still, the ballot matters, a lot.

There is still time for the unregistered to get their names on the rolls of voters. Registration is easier than ever. For information, call the Gloucester registrar’s office, 693-3659; the Mathews office, 725-3200; visit the State Board of Elections website (http://www.voterinfo.sbe.virginia.gov); or stop by a state DMV office.

The deadline to register for this year’s election is Oct. 12. Unless you take part in our democracy and in shaping our government, you really have no reason to complain about the results.