The conventions are over. Both candidates have laid out their visions for the nation. In November, you (and around 120 million other people) get to decide who will hold the reins of leadership for the next four years.

Unless you forget to mail your registration form.

Yes, you’ve still got some time, but with the conventions still fresh in your mind, this is a really great opportunity to not forget to register.

Yesterday, Maxine Griffith, Executive VP for Government & Community Affairs here at Columbia, sent out an email reminding everyone to register to vote. You can read it below, if you haven’t already. But here are the bullet points:

• You should register to vote
• If you want to vote in NY, you can pick up registration forms in Low Library, Room 309
• If you’re voting out of state, you can use TurboVote to get registered
• Project Vote Smart has a list of state-by-state registration deadlines (hint: they’re pretty soon)
• Register to vote, dummy

You can also fill out registration forms through the Obama campaign website, which is very quick and easy — although if you do this, you should expect to get at least four emails from the Obama campaign every day for the rest of your life. The Romney campaign website doesn’t currently seem to offer assistance with voter registration, but if that changes we’ll add a link.

Register to vote!

Griffith’s full e-mail is after the jump.

Dear Columbia Students,

Registering to vote is the most straightforward way to engage in the democratic process. Some of you may already be registered in your home districts or here in New York. If not, please note that you are allowed to vote here in New York County if you have been a resident for at least 30 days.  New York State voter registration forms are available in the Government & Community Affairs office, Low Library Room 309.

If you prefer to vote in your home district, TurboVote is a tool that makes it easy to register and vote while away at college.   If you have not done so already, I encourage you to submit your registration forms or absentee ballots on time and to remind your fellow students, friends, and family to do the same.

For a state by state listing of voter registration deadlines and requirements for both primary and general elections, please go to Project Vote Smart and select your home state from the voter registration drop down menu.  Additional information about voter registration can be found on the Government and Community Affairs website.

For those who will be voting in New York, please be reminded that the New York Primary Election is September 13th.

We know that voter turnout increases when young people urge other young people to vote. Whatever your voting preference, we hope that Columbia students will do their part to increase turnout in 2012 by making their voices heard come November 6.

Sincerely,

Maxine Griffith, AICP

Executive Vice President

for Government & Community Affairs

and Special Advisor, Campus Planning

Columbia University