Absentee voting has already begun; Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5. If you’ve read this far, you care enough that voting is absolutely essential.

On the ballot:

Every Virginia voter will vote for governor; lieutenant governor; attorney general and their member of the House of Delegates.

At the top of the ticket, there are stark differences in the vision for Virginia held by the candidates of each party.

While almost all the coverage and advertising has focused on the significant negatives of the two major party candidates for governor, one of these two men will in fact be elected governor and serve as governor for the next four years. It will make a huge difference which one.

It shouldn’t take very much research for you to determine which candidate holds views closer to your own. What is critical is that you don’t let the negatives about personality or other details keep you from voting. It matters. Figure out which one is your candidate and get out and vote.

Also on the ballot in Fairfax County: sheriff, and the school bond.

Choose Your Own Election Day

From now until Saturday, Nov. 2, you can vote absentee in person for a variety of reasons, but you must sign a form affirming that you do qualify. Almost everyone with a job in Northern Virginia qualifies for one particular reason, however: your work plus commute time would be 11 hours or more between 6.a.m. and 7 p.m. on Election Day. Other reasons include planned travel, pregnancy, illness or disability, being a student out of area, and more. Voters can also vote absentee by mail.

It’s worth looking at the absentee ballot application online before going to vote absentee in person. http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/Files/Forms/VoterForms/ABApplication.pdf

If you live in Fairfax County, you can vote at Fairfax County Governmental Center or any one of seven “satellite” voting locations. If you have not been to the government center, it’s worth having a look.

Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 323, Fairfax, VA 22035.

Saturdays: Sept. 28, Oct. 5, Oct. 12, Oct. 19, Oct. 26 and Nov. 2, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday - until Oct. 12, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Thursdays: 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Closed On Columbus Day - Monday, Oct. 14, 2013

Monday - Friday, Oct. 15 - Nov. 1, 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.

The satellite locations in Fairfax County are also open for absentee in person voting; Saturdays: Sept. 28, Oct. 5, Oct. 12, Oct. 19, Oct. 26 and Nov. 2; 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Monday - Friday: Beginning Oct. 15 - Nov. 1, 3:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.

• Franconia Governmental Center, 6121 Franconia Rd., Alexandria, VA 22310

• West Springfield Governmental Center, 6140 Rolling Rd., Springfield, VA 22152

• Mason Governmental Center, 6507 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA 22003

• Sully Governmental Center, 4900 Stonecroft Boulevard, Chantilly, VA 20151

For more on voting absentee in Fairfax County, call 703-222-0776. or visit http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/elections/absentee.htm.