Leaders of both major political parties agree on one thing: The presidential election Tuesday is among the most important in American history.

Its outcome will shape our government, economy, even our society for many years to come, and may even come to truly define just who we are at this time. Your life and that of your children and grandchildren will be affected profoundly no matter who is elected.

Don’t you want to have a say in the matter?

To judge by voter turnouts in previous elections, many of your friends, family members, co-workers and neighbors simply don’t care about how we are governed.

They do not bother to vote. Imagine that — they don’t even bother to vote.

There is no reason for such apathy this year — in fact, there should never be an excuse to be so fed up with the system that you don’t vote. We already have had several opportunities to vote over the past few weeks — absentee voting by mail, early voting in person (which ended Saturday afternoon). If you prefer to vote on Election Day, you can hit the polls with your fellow citizens to ensure your voice is heard.

Let’s be frank: If you are reading this, you probably understand the importance of this election. Perhaps you have voted already.

But what about others you know, perhaps even in your own family or circle of friends?

Are they as engaged as you are? Are they even fully aware that Election Day is Tuesday?

If not, encourage them to make a difference by voting. Offer to help, perhaps by explaining the ballot process or offering to drive them to their polling place on Tuesday. Talk to them about the candidates on the ballot. It’s likely they know who’s running for president, but what about school district, community, county and state level races?

How you vote is important, of course. But more critical in the long run is whether you participate in the election.

Our form of government — of, by and for the people — can endure only if we Americans are part of it. If we do not use the most effective tool at our disposal — the ballot — to get the kind of government we want, we will not get it.

It really is that simple. Vote, then, and spread the word about how important it is to do so. You can make a difference there, too.