With temperatures gradually dropping and football season in full swing, it’s time to break out the thermals, jeans and light jackets — autumn is here.

School is in session; high school, collegiate and professional football seasons have commenced, which brings masses upon masses of tailgaters and fans; Halloween is approaching and kids are gearing up for that crisp night out of collecting candy and admiring the costumes of their peers. Halloween decorations are going up on porches and in yards around the county. Oyster roasts are underway and Washington will host its annual Smoke on the Water event, which will fill the downtown area with the smell of “Down East” barbecue and feature chili cook-offs, music, children’s activities and an artisans’ market.

However, one important thing to think about this fall is voting. It is important to be ready and equipped to exercise your right by casting a vote this November. Events like the Education Forum on Sept. 30 at Washington High School’s Performing Arts Center will showcase the views of political candidates—state and local—regarding education-related topics. The forum is a collaborative effort of Beaufort County Community College and Beaufort County Schools and will aid in voters making the best decisions possible at the polls.

In order to vote, one must register to do so. To vote in Beaufort County, one must be: 1) a U.S. citizen; 2) a resident of North Carolina and Beaufort County for 30 days before the election; 3) at least 18 years of age on or before the next general election; 4) not registered and not voting in any other state or county; and 5) if convicted of a felony, your rights of citizenship must have been restored. Also, if you move out of your precinct, but remain within Beaufort County, you should notify the board office in writing of your new address.

To register, a form may be obtained at the Beaufort County Board of Elections Office, public libraries or online at http://www.ncsbe.gov/ncsbe/Portals/0/FilesP/NCVRRegFormv102013eng.pdf. Registration application forms must be either postmarked or received by the Board of Elections no later than 25 days before the elections in which you wish to vote.

Once registered, residents may also take advantage of Absentee Voting, comprised of two methods by which registered voters may cast ballots other than the traditional method of appearing in person and casting a ballot on the day of election: absentee by mail or absentee one-stop (early voting). For more information on voting this November, visit http://www.beaufortncboe.org/.