In just over a month, American citizens will be asked to vote for the next president of this country. Every four years, we are presented with at least two candidates and asked to learn about their beliefs and political strategy, and then make a decision as to which would be better for the country and go to the polls to cast our vote. As citizens, we should respect the seriousness of the elections and take the time to make an informed decision.

Though about 49 percent of voters between 18 and 29 cast ballots in the 2008 election, the youth voter turnout has historically lagged behind the turnout rate of older Americans. It is imperative that young people, especially those on college campuses, understand the importance of voting and take each election seriously.

A number of factors can complicate voting for college students. First, an unfortunately large chunk of the college-aged population is not registered to vote. If a student is registered to vote, but in another state, getting to the polls on a Tuesday could be impossible. But there are remedies specifically designed to make it a bit easier to vote.

If you are not registered to vote, you should make it a priority. Being registered to vote does not mean you have to vote, but if you aren’t registered, you don’t even have a voice in the conversation. If you are registered, but in another state, find out how you can obtain an absentee ballot. Your state will mail you a ballot and you can vote from the comfort of your own dorm room or apartment. All you have to do is mail it back by election day. It really is that simple. Those who are not yet registered to vote have until Oct. 17 to do so in Massachusetts.

On our campus along Huntington Avenue, the Student Government Association has launched NUVotes, an initiative comprised of various campus organizations designed to register students to vote and to better inform students of their choices in this election. This is exactly the kind of engagement that we need on campus.

NUVotes hopes to make students aware that because they live in Massachusetts, they have the right to vote in the Bay State.

“Students move around the country a lot, and the whole registration process can be very confusing and difficult. Many shy away from it because it seems complicated,” ex-Massachusetts governor and Northeastern professor Michael Dukakis told The News this week. “So the campaign’s first and biggest issue is just to get students registered, and there’s no better place to do that than on campus.”

Voting is a civic right and responsibility. As young citizens, we should get in the habit of voting by starting now. We have all seen the effects of student involvement and activism on our campus, so there is no reason to believe that the student voice cannot or will not be heard on the national scale.

So please, Northeastern students, register, get an absentee ballot and vote. No matter who you support, or how you vote on ballot questions, take a bit of time to understand the issues, platforms and proposals. While voting is important and admirable, informed voting is even better.