Many Hawaii residents — by one estimate about 250,000 — are eligible to vote, but haven’t yet registered. This is especially critical now, a time when so many public policy issues require attention from citizens.

To make democracy work, all it takes is for you to register just once. Doing this enables you to vote for any public office in the United States in your area, to weigh in on the candidates you prefer, and to exercise your right to support or oppose important ballot questions.

While most states have advance deadlines and some require strict photo identification, Hawaii is more voter-friendly. For one thing, a sworn voter affidavit is the primary basis for an application to vote, and a person’s signature as provided in a government database (e.g., a driver’s license application) can be used by election officials to validate and confirm a voter’s identity.

This makes it easy to register. To register online, click here. . Otherwise, you may submit a paper Wikiwiki Voter Registration and Permanent Absentee Application by mail or in person to your county clerk. Using the Wikiwiki Absentee Application, you can also register to vote absentee permanently so that you would receive future ballots at home.

Once registered, it’s important to keep your personal voter information current. If your name or address change, update this information through these resources.

And speaking of voterfriendly, deadlines for registering are dramatically better. Since 2016, it’s been possible to register late in person at absentee polling places (such as county clerk offices) within 10 days of the election. In 2018, it will be possible for voters to register at polling places on Election Day.

The League of Women Voters particularly urges citizens 18- 25 years of age to register. Otherwise, current demographic trends disadvantage young people because the United States population is aging. In America’s election in 1972, the first in which 18-year-olds could vote, 18 percent of adults were 18-24 years of age. By 2016 that share was just 13 percent. Projections show this share shrinking even more in the next three decades. Coupled with the fact that turnout of registered voters is much higher among older adults than younger, voters under 25 could shrink from a powerful voting group to a weak one.

Which offices and what kinds of issues might registered voters be deciding in 2018? First, ballots will be cast for governor, lieutenant governor, both state and federal representatives, one U.S. senator, 12 state senators, and many others. These individuals determine the course of our nation, our state and our counties. They will consider health-care matters, what to tax and how much, as well as land-use issues. If a majority of voters ask for it in 2018, there will be another Con Con, the first since 1978. Con Con is a citizen-led convention to consider a massive overhaul to the state Constitution.

You can help make democracy work. The first step is registering to vote. If you haven’t already, do it on Tuesday, National Voter Registration Day. If you are already registered, urge a friend or neighbor to do so.

Ann Shaver is president of the League of Women Voters of Hawaii, a non-partisan organization that encourages informed participation in government.