Barack Obama, John McCain, gay marriage and abortion: the 2008 elections are so full of excitement that no eligible voter wants to miss out.

To vote in the state of California, one must be a U.S. citizen, a resident of California and at least 18 years old by the date of the election, Nov. 4.

There are three ways to register to vote. Interested individuals can fill out a voter registration form online at http://www.sos.ca.gov/nvrc/fedform. In addition, voter registration forms can be mailed or picked up at a local county elections office, post office or library. The voter registration deadline is Oct. 20. Potential voters should register as soon as possible.

On Election Day, election ballots should be filled out and dropped off to the Registrar of Voters’ Office in San Jose or at any other polling place in Santa Clara County, including the Palo Alto Fire Station #2 or Juana Briones Elementary School. Polling locations are assigned according to home address and are printed on sample ballots that citizens receive prior to elections. Citizens can also find their polling location by contacting the local county elections office. On Nov. 4, polling locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.