It's nearly time for the politicians, pollsters, and pundits to be silent: We, the people, vote on Tuesday. Despite the many opinions and appeals thrown at everyone in these waning days of Election 2008, the bottom line is that only those of us who choose to vote help decide the course of our great nation.

There's a familiar joke that "my ship came in, but I wasn't at the dock." Let's not miss our ship. On Tuesday, voters should be at the polls exercising democracy's most fundamental right and responsibility. For if we won't vote, we shouldn't grumble -- we truly deserve the government that we get.

Today, we enjoy universal suffrage for American citizens. Thanks to the courage, sacrifices and votes of our forebears over the last 220 years, voting restrictions based on land ownership, race and sex have all been removed. To chose not to vote denigrates this rich history and dishonors those thousands of men and women who have fought to protect our democracy.

However, there is a reasonable argument that if we chose to be uninformed we shouldn't be at the polls on Tuesday.

Why?

Because there's too much at stake to randomly fill in boxes on our ballot, or to vote for someone or for something we really don't understand.

So, read your voter pamphlets and guides. Listen to the candidates and know their views and values. In this electronic age, we can't avoid the opinions of the media and pundits, but make up your own mind after educating yourself on the issues and candidates.

Your vote matters. In 2000, few anticipated that the race between Vice President Al Gore and Texas Gov. George W. Bush would ultimately be decided by one state -- and a few hundred votes. In 1960, John F. Kennedy's victory over Richard M. Nixon was close too -- by just 0.1 percent of the vote.

Here in Alaska, Jay Hammond won the governor's office in 1974 from Gov. Bill Egan by just 287 votes. In 1994, Gov. Tony Knowles was elected over his opponent Jim Campbell by a mere 0.3 percent of Alaska votes.

In his second inaugural address, President Abraham Lincoln described the impending conclusion of the American Civil War and the reconstruction of our republic. He asked that Americans strive together "to bind up the nation's wounds" and "to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations." Similarly, we, the voters, must strive to elect leaders on Tuesday who can bind us together -- despite our differences -- as we resolve social and economic uncertainties at home and effectively respond to an increasingly dangerous world abroad.