Ballots are dropped off at the Deschutes Services Building in Bend on Sunday.

It’s hard not to watch the news without someone hyping up this November election as one of the most significant in history.

It feels like it will be. It might be.

It’s what is said about many presidential elections, until a new one comes along. Because it might be, vote like it might be.

There is so much Oregonians will be voting on in a few days: A new president. A new sheriff in Deschutes County. A school bond in Redmond. Adding commissioners to the Deschutes County Commission. Legislators are up for re-election. There’s a proposed county-wide tax for conservation. The ballot has a host of measures including Measure 118, a new tax on business that promises a rebate to Oregonians.

Oregon does fairly well in its turnout of registered voters. It was best in the country in 2022. Still, many people registered don’t vote. Historically, about 80% of registered voters in Oregon return a ballot in presidential elections.

Winning or losing can come down to a few votes. The race for House District 53 in 2022, which includes parts of Bend and Redmond, came down to 509 votes out of more than 38,000. If that is not close enough for you, the Republican primary for House District 53 was won by only two votes in 2018 by Jack Zika, 3,771 to 3,769.

Your vote can make a difference.

It only has a chance, though, if you are registered. You have until the end of the day on Tuesday, Oct. 15 to register to get a mail-in ballot. You can register online here: tinyurl.com/ORregister.