We wish it were in the 90s. Alas, in a typical off-year local election, only 1 in 5 voters - around 25% - cast a ballot. This means your vote at the local level has a huge impact. Some major local issues have been decided by 1 single vote. Ready to make yours count? Register here.

"Primary" is the answer, but it's not of primary importance—all elections are worth knowing about...

• Political parties choose their candidates for elections in primary elections. (California's "jungle primary" is an exception, as all candidates for elected office run in the same primary regardless of their political parties).
• In general elections, one candidate from each party runs for each office. In some states, constitutional amendments and ballot questions may also be voted on at this time.
• Special elections: These off-cycle elections may be held when an incumbent (current officeholder) can no longer serve or when someone resigns, dies, or is removed from office.

That's right - each of the policies listed above began at the state or local level. Cities often serve as incubator labs for new ideas in governance, which means local-level elections have a real impact on legislations’ ability to gain widespread support.

Voting in your local election is the quickest way to help create the change you want to see across the nation. Your vote tells elected officials what your priorities are, and how they should serve your interests.

Once again, thank acting local for this national law. The legal voting age across the United States was once 21. But in 1943, Georgia became the first state to lower the legal voting age to 18. Later, it became an official part of the U.S. Constitution. (Read more about voting rights here)

So: Are you a U.S. citizen? Over 18? A resident of one of the 50 states? If you answered "yes" to all these questions, congrats, you can register to vote.