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Why? Well, it’s your civic duty. But if that isn’t enough, the fact that you read this blog indicates you are interested in public education. And this election could have big consequences for education. Races for the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate will influence education policy at the federal level, with the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act expected in the coming months. And there are real ideological debates in some of those races, with some candidates calling for the abolition of the U.S. Department of Education while others advocate for a greater federal role, and everything in between.

But elections at the state level will also have great impacts on public education. Consider the importance of voting for each of the following roles:

Governors: There are 38 gubernatorial races this year. Particularly given the fiscal crisis in many states, these races could have enormous consequences for public education. Governors wield great influence over state budgets--and funding is scarce. Cuts must be made, and some gubernatorial candidates would make them in education.

State Legislators: State legislatures make important decisions regarding education in their states, ranging from funding to requiring citizenship verification prior to enrollment in higher education to how English language learners are educated. I doubt any state legislature will go the next two years without facing at least one education-related decision.

State Boards of Education: As EdWeek’s Sean Cavanagh recently pointed out, state boards of education play a major role in teaching and learning. Their power varies by state, but they can be involved in setting state standards (putting them in debates over the teaching of evolution, for example), setting graduation requirements, adopting text books and implementing federal policies, among other duties. State board members come to power in a variety of ways--some are appointed, some are elected. On Tuesday, eleven states plus the District of Columbia will hold elections for these positions.

State Ballot Measures: Not only do voters select representation, but they vote on actual policies. Given the economic crisis, this year a number of these policies relate, directly or indirectly, to school funding. For example, voters in Maine and Oregon are considering new casinos that would direct some proceeds to k-12 education while voters in California may roll back tax cuts, which could help ward off cuts to education. And there are non-finance issues on ballots, too. In Arizona Proposition 107 would amend the state’s constitution to ban affirmative action in a number of settings, including public education, and in Florida Amendment 8 would tweak a current amendment on class size.

All of these races have the potential to impact thousands and thousands of people. Students and teachers, obviously, but also taxpayers and other entities interested in the future and funding of our nation. Yet history shows that nationally, less than half of eligible Americans will vote in these elections. Will you be one of them?