With political debates and stump speeches filling up the news, not to mention the ad campaigns everywhere you look, it probably goes without saying that it’s almost time for the next presidential election.

Barely more than a month remains between now and Election Day, Nov. 5. So, if you haven’t yet taken the time to familiarize yourself with the candidates – well, as the saying goes, there’s no time like the present.

Even on the opinion page, we make it a point to stay neutral when it comes to elections. You might see ads from candidates in our papers; those are paid political ads, which any candidate may purchase at the same rate. You might see features on local candidates; we do our best to give every candidate the same opportunity to share the platform and their message within these messages.

But when it comes to telling you who to vote for – we don’t. We do, however, encourage you to educate yourself, make an informed decision and cast your ballot when the time comes, for whoever you determine deserves your vote.

Voting remains such a singular privilege we have available to us, and we would do well to take advantage of it.

The state has recently released a sample ballot for all Alabama counties, so take some time to familiarize yourself with it so you’re prepared come Nov. 5.

Another preparatory measure would be to make sure you know to which polling location you are assigned. Particularly if this will be your first time to vote, or the first time in a few election cycles, or if you’ve recently moved into the county or moved houses within the county, you’ll want to be sure you know where to cast your vote.

It’s also not too late to register to vote. If you’re new to the state, new to the county, or newly eligible in any other way, now’s the time to be getting your registration in. The last day to register is Oct. 21.

You can find out more about these and other Election Day topics at https://www.sos.alabama.gov/alabama-votes.

Take the time for this. It’s like the Secretary of State’s office says: “For your voice to be heard, every Alabamian should vote. Voting is fundamental to our constitutional republic, and your civic participation is critical to our success as a state.”