Do you love your county, your state, your nation? Are you concerned about the future? Do you want to see change at any level?

You can complain at the family picnic, write a letter to the editor, scream at the TV, argue on social media. The only way, however, to do something that is sure to matter, is to vote.

American elections often have dismal turnout and some people won’t even take the time to qualify. Voting is the ultimate right, and privilege, and responsibility, of citizenship. Yet many people do not bother to cast a ballot, and some never even register to vote. And registration is easier than ever before.

The Virginia Department of Elections has issued a press release noting that Tuesday, Sept. 24, is National Voter Registration Day. During this period, you may encounter volunteers encouraging voter registration.

But it is far from the only opportunity to put your name on the voter rolls.

As state officials note, the deadline for registering to vote in the Nov. 5 ele...