Much has been written, and said, of the importance of this year’s presidential election. Some of the claims are true, others spurious, but one thing is certain: This will be a defining event for the generation of voters under age 35.

Count me as one who is proud to call himself part of that younger generation. There are specific events that tend to shape a generation’s thinking, such as the Great Depression, World War II, the Civil Rights movement, or to cite a more recent example, Sept. 11, 2001. Some of them may happen over a 10-year period, while others represent a day that is forever burned into one’s memory.

Just as Sept. 11 was a day of grave importance for my generation, so too will be Nov. 4, 2008. Although the election takes place on that day, its impact will be considerably longer lasting. Not since the 1960s has the United States faced such a tumultuous time. We’re facing a financial crisis, not to mention the ongoing war in Iraq, serious concerns about energy sources and availability, and deep political and cultural divisions within the country.

So, the logical questions that my generation will ask when faced with these problems are, “What do these have to do with me, what can I do about them, and why should I care?”

To begin with, democracy is not a spectator sport. I am eternally grateful to my high school government teacher for explaining the phrase, for it is a motto that I have tried to live my life by ever since. Voting is the ultimate act of participatory democracy because when you step into that voting booth, you have the power to make a decision that will shape the direction of a nation.

And making informed decisions is absolutely critical to the health of our country. Taking the time to gather as much information as possible before making choices is a key to success in voting and in life. I find that I enjoy life’s challenges much more when confronting them with the results of extensive research.

From a historical perspective, voting is something that reconnects us with our roots as a nation. When we vote, we are honoring those who created the United States and shed blood to ensure the country would stand on its own. It is also a refreshingly independent and humbling act, because your decision lasts forever and there are consequences for your actions.

Also, voting is communal. Regardless of one’s political preferences, we are one community, one country, when we cast our ballots. It shows that we care about who we are and have a sense of purpose with regard to the direction of our nation, our home.

I’m pleased to see the great number of absentee ballots being cast, and hopeful that a large portion of them are submitted by my generation. After all, we are the nation’s future and should let our voices be heard in the decision-making process. In conversations with older folks, it has seemed that this will be the most important presidential election in nearly 50 years and one of the most important in U.S. history.

So, my concluding message to my generation is this: Don’t be a spectator. Grab the bull by the horns and vote on Nov. 4, if you haven’t done so already by absentee ballot. One vote DOES make a difference.

Actually, come to think of it, that’s a message that could apply to any generation.

Barry Matulaitis is a Rumford-based freelance writer and photographer.